






Copyright N° 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




•X v 







E VER T CHILD 'S SERIES 


STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


E VER Y CHILD ’S SERIES 


Each Cloth Illustrated 16mo 40 cents 

GREAT OPERA STORIES. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Millicent S. Bender. 

HISTORICAL PLAYS FOR CHILDREN. For Intermediate Grades. 
By Grace E. Bird, Department of English, State Normal School. 
Plymouth, N. H., and Maude Starling, Supervisor of Training, 
State Normal School, Plymouth, N. H. 

BOY AND GIRL HEROES. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Florence V. Farmer, Vice-Principal Ridge Street School, 
Newark, N. J., author of “The Plan Book,” “Myths of Many 
Lands,” etc. 

NATURE STORIES. For Primary Grades. 

By Mary Gardner, of the Duluth, Minn., Public Schools. 

IN THOSE DAYS. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Ella B. Hallock, author of “Some Living Things,” “First 
Lessons in Physiology,” “Studies in Browning,” etc. 

FAIRY BOOK, A. For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell, author of “American School Readers,” 
“ Old Time Tales,” and other books. 

OLD TIME TALES. For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell. 

STORIES GRANDMOTHER TOLD. For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell. 

STORIES OF THE SPANISH MAIN. 

For Intermediate and Grammar Grades. 
By Frank R. Stockton. Adapted from “Buccaneers and Pirates 
of Our Coast.” 

NONSENSE DIALOGUES. For Primary Grades. 

By Mrs. E. E. K. Warner. 

WHEN WE WERE WEE. For Primary and Intermediate Grades- 
By Martha Young, author of “ Plantation Songs,” “ Plantation Bird 
Legends,” “ Somebody’s Little Girl,” and other books. 

WHEN GREAT FOLKS WERE LITTLE FOLKS. 

For Intermediate Grades. 

By Dorothy Donnell Calhoun. 

HOW MAN CONQUERED NATURE. 

For Intermediate and Grammar Grades. 

By Minnie Reynolds. 

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
64-66 Fifth Avenue, New York 
Chicago Boston San Francisco Atlanta Dallas 



EVERYCHILD’S SERIES 


STORIES 

OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


BY 

MARY GOOCH ANDERSON 


Ntfrr gork 

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
1914 

All rights reserved 


, I 

• A 54 i 

c. 


Copyright, 1914, 

By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. 


Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1914. 



Notfajooti $ressg 

J. S. Cushing Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. 
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 


OCT 15 1914 

© Cl. A 3 8 702 1 


PREFACE 


Ip we had to wait until we had learned Greek 
and Latin to read the stories of ancient gods and 
goddesses, very few of us would know about 
them. Think how much we should miss. Think 
of the beauties of mythology that we could not 
enjoy. 

But we do not have to wait, and we are richer 
because we do not. Many scholars have trans- 
lated and enjoyed — first-hand, we might say — 
the stories of the deities of the Greeks and the 
Romans. But for us, not so fortunate and yet 
fortunate too, there lived, many years ago, a 
man who collected all these stories and pub- 
lished them in English. This was Thomas Bul- 
finch. We must thank him for the pleasure the 
stories give us ; for the appreciation of litera- 
ture they make possible, and for the richer 
thought they afford. 







CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Mount Olympus and the Gods 

. 

. 

. 


1 

Prometheus and Pandora 

. 

. 



7 

Minerva and her Contest with Arachne . 



17 

The Story of Pegasus 





25 

Io’s Troubles .... 





31 

Latona and the Rustics . 





41 

Baucis and Philemon 





47 

Echo and Narcissus . 





55 

Hercules 





63 

Cadmus, the Builder of a City 





69 

The Oracle of Apollo . 





77 

Apollo and Daphne . 





83 

Clytie 





91 

Apollo plays with Hyacinthus 





97 

Phaeton in the Sun Chariot 





103 

How Ceres lost Proserpine . 





115 

Orpheus seeks Eurydice 





125 

Cupid and Psyche 





131 

Pygmalion 





149 

Leander swims the Hellespont 





155 

Atalanta’s Race 





161 

The Halcyon Birds . 





167 

A Sea God’s Wooing 

. 




179 


vii 


Vlll 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

CEdipus solves the Riddle 189 

Pyramus and Thisbe 195 

The Gods who care for Orchards .... 203 

Theseus 209 

Stories of the Trojan War 217 





MOUNT OLYMPUS AND THE GODS 



MOUNT OLYMPUS AND THE GODS 


We must thank the Greeks and Romans who 
lived in Ancient Times for the stories of their gods 
and goddesses. These people who lived a long, 
long time ago, — even many hundred years, — did 
not know a great many things that we know to- 
day. They knew little of who lived outside of 
their own countries ; so they imagined what these 
people might be like. They knew little about the 
earth they lived on, but they imagined it was round 
and flat like a huge silver dollar. They knew little 
about any body of water except the Mediterranean 
Sea, so they called it The Great Sea. They knew 
little about the heavens and what lay beyond, so 
they imagined that beyond the clouds dwelt the 
gods and goddesses. They knew not what was 
under the earth, so they fancied that this under- 
world was the abode of other gods and that this 
was the place to which the dead went when they 
left the earth. 


3 


4 


STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


They knew that the sun rose and set, but what 
made it ? They did not know, so they said that 
the Great Sun God drove in a golden chariot 
drawn by fiery horses across the heavens each day, 
and this brought dawn, then daylight, then dusk. 
If a great storm raged, the people marveled and 
explained it by saying that the Father of Gods and 
Men was angry and in his wrath was hurling 
thunderbolts and forked lightning through the air. 
This Father of the Gods they called Jupiter. He 
was the greatest of all the gods. 

With the other gods he lived in the heavens, but 
he could come to earth when he chose. He could 
visit not only gods but mortals, as well, and he 
could assume any form he liked so that no one 
could recognize him. Then, too, he could exercise 
this power of change over others. If anything 
had been done to displease Jupiter, the offender 
might feel himself gradually becoming a calf or 
a snake or whatever the god wished. 

Juno was the wife of Jupiter. Often he grew 
tired of her and took another wife for a while. 
Because he was a god and the greatest of gods, 
all the other divinities — except Juno, of course 



Jupiter 




6 


STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


— thought this behavior right. But, as we shall 
see later, much trouble and unhappiness came 
from Jupiter’s love for other goddesses. 

Jupiter’s palace stood above Mount Olympus, 
and the ancients believed that this mountain 
occupied the very center of the earth. Here, 
when the affairs of heaven and earth were to be 
discussed, the gods and goddesses assembled. 
Here they feasted and listened to Apollo, who was 
also the god of music, as he played on his lyre. 
Here they heard the muses sing. And when the 
day was over, they returned to their homes in the 
heavens. The road they took stretches across 
the face of the sky. Look for it on the next 
clear night. We call it “The Milky Way.” 


PRO-ME'THEUS AND PAN-DO'RA 

The ancients had a strange idea of the creation 
of man. They said that two of the Ti'tans made 
him. These two were brothers, Ep-i-me'theus 
and Pro-me'theus. Pan-do'ra, the first woman, 
was sent to Epimetheus by the gods as a punish- 
ment. Why do you suppose man was so pun- 
ished ? 

Mi-ner'va Mer'cu-ry 


I 


PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA 


Just as the ancients did not know about the 
shape of the earth, just as they thought that the 
sun moved through the sky, and just as, to ac- 
count for things, they imagined the stories of 
gods and goddesses, so, not knowing about the 
first man and how he was created, they made a 
fable about him. 

They believed that before man was created, the 
earth was peopled with a race of giants called 
Titans. After some great god had made the 
earth, the sea, the sky, and the Titans, then it 
was left to the Titans to make the animals and 
man. Some of the Titans made the beasts of the 
field; some, the animals that live in the sea. 
Others made the creeping and crawling things. 
Two of the Titans, Prometheus and Epimetheus, 
who were brothers, were appointed to make man. 

Prometheus mixed up some earth with some 
water and fashioned man in the image of the gods. 

9 


10 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

All other animals walked on four feet and their 
faces looked toward the ground. But man stood 
erect and turned his face to heaven and gazed 
at the stars. 

Epimetheus had given the animals weapons 
with which to defend themselves. To some he 
had given wings that they might fly from danger. 
To others he gave claws with which to fight any 
who might disturb them. To yet others he gave 
poison, as to the snake, so that mortals might fear 
them. Epimetheus had been so generous in 
giving not only wings and claws and poison, but 
courage and swiftness and strength to the animals, 
that when Prometheus was ready to finish man, 
there was no gift left with which to make him 
different from the animals. 

These two brothers consulted together. After 
thinking and thinking, they could decide on 
nothing to give man. Then they went to Minerva, 
the goddess of wisdom, and consulted her. 
She gave them good advice. “Give man fire,” 
she said, “then he can rule the world/' Now to 
get the fire, as there was none on earth, Pro- 
metheus had to take a long journey to the palace 


PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA 


11 


of the Sun. He carried a hollow reed along. 
In this he hid fire from the sacred hearth, and 
brought it down thence to man. This was the 
greatest gift that Prometheus could have given 
him. With fire man can make weapons to fight 
with. With fire he can heat a place to live. 
With fire he can coin money and make many 
lovely things. 

Jupiter did not know that mortals had stolen 
his fire, for he was away when the thief got it. 
But one day he looked down from his palace in 
the sky and saw smoke. “Strange,” said he, 
“I see smoke on earth.” He thought at first 
that he must be mistaken, for mortals had no 
fire. “But,” he said, “there must be fire, where 
there is so much smoke.” And he looked closer 
and found fire. Immediately he grew angry. 
He decided that man must be punished, but he 
did not know what the punishment should be. 
After much thought, Jupiter concluded that he 
would send woman to man, and in that way 
punish him. So he mixed up some earth and 
water and made a woman. He called a council 
of the gods and goddesses and told each to give 


12 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

woman some quality which would make her dif- 
ferent from man. Venus, Jupiter's daughter, 
was the goddess of love and beauty. She gave 
woman beauty. Mercury, the messenger of the 
gods, gave her the power of persuading man to 
do her will. Apollo made her gifted in music. 
And in this way, each god contributed to woman's 
make-up. So it was that Jupiter named her 
Pandora, which means the “all-gifted." 

Jupiter brought Pandora to earth and presented 
her to Epimetheus, who accepted her gladly. 
Epimetheus, because he did not know Jupiter 
was angry, thought that Pandora was a gift of 
blessing. Prometheus all the while begged Epi- 
metheus to be careful; for he knew that they 
had done wrong to steal the fire from Jupiter. 

There is a story that Epimetheus kept in his 
house a jar in which were a lot of hurtful things 
that were not used in making the animals and 
man. Prometheus had many times urged his 
brother to hide the jar, lest it be opened by mis- 
take. But Epimetheus, who never thought of 
what he did until it brought him trouble, disre- 
garded the advice of his brother and kept the jar 


PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA 


13 



and peeped in.” 


14 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

where anybody could see it. Other stories say 
that Mercury, when he brought Pandora, brought 
the jar as a marriage gift, or dowTy, from the 
gods. At any rate, there was the jar in the house 
of Epimetheus. 

Now, while the gods were bestowing on Pandora 
their gifts, some one had given her curiosity. 
No sooner did she see the lovely jar tightly covered, 
than she wanted to know what was inside. One 
day when no one was looking, she slipped the 
cover off and peeped in. Immediately there es- 
caped a hundred or more plagues for man. There 
were all passions, evil tempers, worries, all 
diseases that poison his mind and torment his 
body. All these immediately began their task. 
They circled about Pandora and stung her. She 
put the lid back quickly. It was too late ! The 
evils had escaped, and Jupiter was revenged on 
man. 

First the world was full of pain and despair 
for Epimetheus and Pandora. But one day 
Pandora heard a sweet voice calling her. It 
seemed to come from the jar. She was afraid, 
and would not open the jar to see. But at last, 


PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA 


15 


won by the voice, she lifted the lid. Into the 
world flew Hope ! This beautiful fairy some pity- 
ing god had put in the box to cheer man. And 
Hope has never left him. 

Jupiter was not satisfied with punishing and 
afflicting man through Pandora's curiosity. He 
punished Prometheus also. He had Prometheus 
chained to a high cliff and sent an eagle to prey 
on his body. But long after, Hercules, the son of 
Jupiter, slew the vulture and set Prometheus free. 





MI-NER'VA AND A-RACH'NE 

Minerva, the goddess of weaving as well as of 
war and wisdom, was once insulted by Arachne. 
This mortal maiden claimed that she could weave 
as skillfully as the goddess. A contest followed. 

A-rach'ne Eu-ro'pa 

Nep'tune A-the'ne 


c 




MINERVA AND HER CONTEST WITH 
ARACHNE 


Minerva was one of Jupiter’s numerous chil- 
dren. The ancients believed that she sprang 
forth full-grown and in full armor from her father’s 
brain. It seems that the ruler of gods once had 
a pain in his head. Now pains are not common 
among the gods, and this proved particularly 
vexing to Jupiter. As it grew worse, he called 
Vulcan, who, at his father’s request, split open 
the aching head with an ax. Forth leaped 
Minerva. 

Minerva was the goddess of war, — not of war 
for the love of violence and bloodshed as Mars 
was, — for she helped people to defend themselves 
when others made war on them. She was also 
the goddess of wisdom, and the goddess of spin- 
ning, weaving, and needlework. 

Minerva’s home was at Athens. During the 
reign of the first king of Athens, Neptune and 
Minerva each claimed Athens. Thus a dispute 
19 


20 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

arose. The gods decided that the city should 
belong to the one who created the most useful 
gift for mortals. Neptune produced a horse 
and Minerva an olive tree. The gods decided in 
favor of Minerva. So Athens came to be her own 
city. It was called from her name, for the Greeks 
called her “Athene.” 

Minerva was jealous of her skill in weaving and 
embroidery. Whenever she heard of anybody 
who was expert in her arts and who did not give 
her credit for their success, she was angry. 

There was a mortal named Arachne, who did 
such beautiful work that the nymphs would crowd 
around her and watch her fingers as they wove 
beautiful figures. If Arachne had said, “I am 
thankful that Minerva smiles on me and gives me 
such success,” Minerva would have been pleased. 
But Arachne said, “I care nothing for this god- 
dess. Who is she? She has not taught me my 
art. I am as skilled as she is, — let her try her 
skill with me.” 

Minerva, of course, heard this and was sorry, 
— almost angry, but she thought perhaps Arachne 
did not know how serious a matter it was to defy 


MINERVA’S CONTEST WITH ARACHNE 21 


a goddess in such a manner. She assumed the 
form of an old woman. Coming to Arachne, she 
said to her in a kind tone, “I am an old woman 
and have had much experience, so I hope you will 
take my advice. You may challenge your com- 
panions and any mortals you please, but I advise 
you not to speak as you have done of Minerva. 
She will not like it. Ask her pardon for what you 
have said. She may forgive you.” But Arachne 
proudly replied that she did not fear the goddess. 

At that moment, Minerva assumed her own 
form. The nymphs were amazed. The by- 
standers dropped back in awe. But Arachne 
was not moved. She did not try to keep from 
entering a contest with the goddess, but, confident 
of her skill, agreed to start at once. 

The contest began. The weaving proceeded. 
Both Minerva and Arachne worked with speed. 
Beautiful colors and intricate figures appeared. 

On her web Minerva wrought the scene of her 
contest with Neptune. All of the gods sat in 
council. Neptune, who seemed just to have 
finished his horse, and Minerva, with her helmet 
and golden breastplate, occupied the center. 


22 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 



“ Both Minerva and Arachne worked with speed. Beautiful 
colors and intricate figures appeared.” 


MINERVA’S CONTEST WITH ARACHNE 23 


Arachne wove into her work scenes from the 
lives of the gods which showed their errors and 
failings. She represented Jupiter, in the guise of 
a bull, with Europa on his back, as he swam with 
her to Crete. So natural did it seem that one 
could almost see the terror on Europa's face. 
Many other incidents Arachne depicted. 

Minerva was forced to admire the skill of the 
weaver. But Arachne, glancing at Minerva's 
web, knew she was defeated. In her shame, she 
would have hung herself. But Minerva touched 
her, saying, “Live, guilty woman; and lest you 
forget this lesson, you shall continue to weave, 
— you and all your descendants." 

Immediately Arachne's form commenced to 
change. Her head and her feet were drawn up 
into her body. Her arms shriveled until her 
fingers were fastened to her side. Then her 
fingers withered. 

Minerva left her thus, changed into a huge 
spider. From that day to this Arachne has been 
spinning her web. Haven't you often seen one of 
her children hanging by a slender thread to the 
web she has woven ? 




THE STORY OF PEGASUS 

Bel-ler'o-phon, with the winged horse Peg'a- 
sus to help him, overcame the fearful monster 
Chi-mse'ra. 

Me-du'sa 

Per'se-us 


THE STORY OF PEGASUS 


Once a beautiful maiden named Medusa dared 
to claim that she was as lovely as Minerva. Of 
course this made Minerva angry, and she changed 
the pretty girl into a terrible monster. Her 
lovely hair became a crown of hissing snakes. 
She was so horrible that all who gazed upon her 
turned to stone. 

Perseus set out to rid the country of this mon- 
ster. Minerva helped him, and so did Mercury. 
Minerva lent Perseus her shield, which was so 
bright that he used it as a mirror, because if he 
had looked directly at Medusa, he too would have 
been turned to stone. With this shield he had 
no trouble in finding Medusa and in cutting off 
her head. He gave her head to Minerva and ever 
after she wore it in the middle of her shield. When 
Perseus cut off Medusa's head, her blood sank in 
the ground and a great horse, like our horses 
except that it had wings and could fly, sprang forth. 
Minerva tamed thehorse and gavehim to the Muses. 

27 


28 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

The Chimaera was a terrible monster whose 
body was like a lion and a goat in front but whose 
tail was like a dragon. It caused great fear and 
damage in Lycia, so the king was very anxious to 
have it killed. He could find no one to undertake 
the task. About the time he was seeking a hero 
to kill the Chimaera, a man named Bellerophon 
arrived at the court. He brought with him letters 
from the king’s son-in-law saying that he was a 
great fighter. But the letter ended by asking the 
king of Lycia to kill Bellerophon. Of course the 
king did not wish to kill his guest, so he decided 
that he would send him to fight the Chimaera, 
and so perhaps he would not have to kill him. 

Bellerophon was glad enough to go. He con- 
sulted a soothsayer as to what help he would need 
and what weapons he had best carry. The sooth- 
sayer advised Bellerophon to get Pegasus to help 
him. “Stay,” he said, “all night in the Temple 
of Minerva and she will surely help you.” Sure 
enough, while he was asleep in the temple, Minerva 
came to him and put in his hand a golden bridle. 
When he awoke, he was still holding the bridle. 
Minerva directed him to where Pegasus was drink- 


THE STORY OF PEGASUS 


29 


ing at a fountain. Bellerophon watched his oppor- 
tunity. Suddenly he vaulted upon the steed’s 
back. Pegasus rose into the air, but after a 
struggle the hero slipped the bridle on him. 
As soon as Pegasus felt the golden bridle, he be- 
came gentle and tractable. He rose in the air 
like a bird and carried Bellerophon to the Chi- 
maera. Bellerophon overcame the monster in a 
terrible fight. 

Disappointed that Bellerophon was not killed 
in the fight, the king gave him many other labors 
to perform. He soon found, however, that the 
gods were with Bellerophon. So he stopped 
trying to kill him and, instead, gave him his 
daughter for his wife. 

Bellerophon was very proud of what he had 
accomplished. Too proud, Jupiter thought, be- 
cause he tried to fly to heaven on Pegasus. This 
angered the great god and he sent a gadfly to sting 
Pegasus. The winged steed shied, throwing Bel- 
lerophon to the ground and hurting him so that 
he was lame and blind for life. 

Then Pegasus, freed by this accident, flew away 
to the heaven of the immortals. 









































































■ 

I : 

, . 




















. > 


























* 






























* t 















ro 

Juno one day found Jupiter with a lovely heifer. 
Why Juno made Ar'gus watch the heifer, and 
why Jupiter sent Mer'cu-ry to kill Argus, is very 
interesting. You shall hear about it. 

I'o Syr'inx 

Ar'gus Di-a'na 



IO'S TROUBLES 


The gods and goddesses had emotions and fail- 
ings very much like ours. The great Jupiter 
himself admired beautiful nymphs and maidens, 
and Juno, his wife, was jealous. Juno knew her 
husband's weakness and was ever on the watch 
for it. 

Awaking one day, she noticed her husband's 
absence. When she went to look for the god, the 
world became suddenly dark. A great cloud of 
dust hid the light of the sun. Immediately Juno 
thought, “ This must be some of Jupiter's work. 
He is trying to conceal some wrong he is doing." 
She descended, and found her husband standing 
on the bank of a clear stream. Near him was a 
beautiful heifer. “Why should Jupiter be play- 
ing with a heifer ?" thought she. “That is surely 
a curious plaything for a god." Women to-day are 
said to jump at conclusions. Certainly Juno 


34 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

did. "That heifer’s form, I wager, covers the 
fair form of some nymph or mortal maiden,” 
she said. And she had guessed right. The 
heifer was Io, the daughter of the river god whom 
Jupiter had quickly changed in form when he 
heard Juno approaching. 

Jupiter was not clever enough for his jealous 
wife. She joined him, admired the heifer, and 
asked why he was playing with it. Jupiter did 
not know what to say. Wishing to stop her ques- 
tions, he told Juno that this was a new kind of a 
heifer he had just created. Immediately Juno 
wanted it for her own. Jupiter reluctantly gave 
the heifer to Juno. \ 

This did not satisfy Juno’s jealousy. She still 
believed that the heifer was something more than a 
mere heifer. To discover Jupiter’s secret, she de- 
livered her new gift over to Argus, and commanded 
him to watch the animal. Argus was the very 
best one she could have chosen for this work. He 
had a hundred eyes in his head, and never slept 
with all of them at one time. 

During the day Argus allowed Io to graze, but 
at night he tied her up with a rope around her 


IO’S TROUBLES 


35 


neck. Poor Io was helpless. Frequently she saw 
her father and her sisters, but she could not make 
herself known to them. All she could do was to 
be gentle with them, and allow them to feed and 
pet her. One day when her father was near, Io 
took her hoof and made in the sand the two letters 
that spelled her name. Her father recognized 
it at once. Throwing his arms around her neck, 
he mourned over her, saying, “ Would that you 
had been lost to me entirely rather than that I 
should find you in this form.” 

Of course Argus saw Io write her name, and saw 
the embraces of her father, — for he saw every- 
thing. He at once drove Io away, and resumed 
his watch. 

All this time Jupiter, troubled and sad that 
Io should be suffering through his fault, was 
planning how he might put Argus to sleep. 
Finally he called Mercury, the messenger of the 
gods, and told him what he wanted done. 
Quickly Mercury put on his winged slippers and 
his winged cap. Quickly he picked up his wand 
that would put people to sleep. Quickly he 
leaped down from Jupiter’s palace to the river- 


36 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

bank near the place where Argus kept watch over 
Io. When Mercury came in sight, he took off 
his cap and slippers, for he would surely have been 
recognized by them. He changed his wand into 
a shepherd’s crook and, disguising himself as a 
shepherd, he strolled along and played on his 
pipes till he was near Argus. 

By this time Argus was lonely and tired of his 
work. Gladly indeed he welcomed some one with 
whom to talk. He liked the music Mercury made 
on his pipes. He invited the god to sit on the 
rock by him and play to him. Mercury was 
delighted with the invitation, for he hoped that 
by playing soothing tunes he might lull Argus to 
sleep. But in vain he seemed to play, for every 
time Mercury looked at Argus some of the hundred 
eyes were watching. Many stories of the gods 
and their loves Mercury told. Then he decided 
that as Argus seemed interested in his pipes, he 
would tell the story of them. So he told the story 
of Syrinx and the Pandean Pipes. 

There was once a lovely nymph, Syrinx, whom 
the satyrs and sprites of the wood loved. But 
she adored Diana, the virgin goddess, and would 


IO’S TROUBLES 


37 



But in vain he seemed to play, for every time Mercury looked 
at Argus some of the hundred eyes were watching.” 


38 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


not listen to their love words. She loved the 
chase and shunned her wooers. Even Pan, the 
god of shepherds, wooed her in vain. One day 
she fled from Pan, her lover. Pan pursued and 
was overtaking her. She called wildly to the 
river gods for help. They heard her prayer and 
as she neared the river edge helped her swiftly. 
When Pan threw his arms around her body, he 
embraced not Syrinx, but an armful of reeds. 
His moans and songs of sadness passed through 
the reeds and there sounded a strange melody. 
Pan broke off some of these reeds, placed them side 
by side, and made an instrument of music. This 
instrument he called Syrinx because it was the 
name of the nymph he loved and because it was 
made from the cluster of reeds into which she was 
transformed. 

People call the instrument the “Pipes of Pan/' 
because Pan made it. 

As Mercury finished his story and started to 
play again on the Pipes of Pan, he looked around 
at Argus, and wonder of wonders ! Argus was 
asleep. Mercury could not believe his own eyes. 
Looking more carefully, he found all of the hun- 


IO’S TROUBLES 


39 


dred eyes closed. Was it the magic of the story 
or was it the music? Mercury did not stop to 
reason. He lifted his hand and cut off Argus's 
head. Then Mercury hastened to report to 
Jupiter what he had done. 

When Juno heard of the death of Argus, she 
was enraged. She plucked out all of his hundred 
eyes and put them as ornaments on the tail of her 
handsome peacock, and since that day, all peacocks 
have worn them. 

But Juno was not yet satisfied. She sent a 
huge gadfly to torment Io. Io was frantic and 
fled all over the world. But try as she might, 
she could not get away from the gadfly. It would 
follow her and worry her everywhere she went. 
She swam through a sea, and since then the sea 
has been called the Ionian Sea for her. After that 
she roamed over plains, climbed mountains, and at 
last ended her wanderings down on the banks of 
the Nile. Here she was sick and weary and ready 
to die. 

At length Jupiter could stand to see her suffer- 
ings no longer, so he humbled himself and be- 
sought Juno to cease tormenting Io. Juno was 


40 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


now satisfied. She consented to leave Io alone 
if Jupiter would promise that never again would 
he pay her any attention. 

Restored to her beautiful form again, Io went 
back to live with her father and her sisters. 


LA-TO'NA 

Latona, a poor thirsty goddess, one day wanted 
a drink of water. Every time she tried to drink, 
some country people stirred up the water and made 
it muddy. Do you think they should have been 
punished ? 


LATONA AND THE RUSTICS 


Many people suffered on account of Juno's 
jealousy. Sometimes she had cause to be jeal- 
ous, sometimes she imagined she had. 

Latona, the goddess of dark nights, whom 
Jupiter especially loved, was made to wander 
over many lands and to suffer numberless insults. 
Juno not only did all in her own power to make 
Latona miserable, but she made others rude and 
cruel to her. 

One day Latona was weary with her journey. 
The dust had parched her lips and she was dread- 
fully thirsty. In the distance she saw a cool 
stream. She hastened eagerly to the place. 
She was just stooping at the water's edge when 
some country people, who were gathering willow 
twigs, saw her. Thinking to gain Juno's favor, 
they attacked her. Each time she tried to drink 
they stopped her. “Why do you keep me from 
drinking?" Latona said to them. “Surely water 
43 


44 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

is free to all. Nature allows no one to claim as 
his property the sunshine, the air, or the water. 
I come to take my share of the common blessing. 
Yet I have to ask it of you as a favor. I do not 
wish to bathe my limbs in it, weary though they 
be. I wish only to quench my thirst. My mouth 
is so dry I can hardly speak. A drink of water 
would be as sweet as nectar to me ; it would revive 
and refresh me, and I would bless you for the 
rest of my life.” 

But the clowns would not listen to Latona's 
prayer. They waded into the water and stirred 
up the mud with their feet. Latona was so angry 
that she forgot her thirst. Lifting her eyes to 
heaven, she cried, “May these people never leave 
the pool.” Jupiter granted her request. 

The clowns are no longer people. Immediately 
their voices became harsh and their mouths 
stretched all across their faces. Their backs 
turned green and their fronts white. They were 
frogs ! They still live in the water which they 
muddied and they still croak. Haven't you heard 
them ? 

But Latona roamed on, still driven by Juno's 


LATONA AND THE RUSTICS 


45 



“ They waded in the water and stirred up mud with their feet.” 




46 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


cruelty. At last, weary from this persecution, 
she came to the sea. Neptune, who is king in the 
realm of waters, pitied her. He sent a dolphin 
to carry her to Delos, the floating island. But 
there the rocking of her new home annoyed 
Latona so much that Neptune made fast the island 
in the sea. At Delos, twin children were born 
to Latona. They were Apollo, the god of music 
and of the sun, and Diana, queen of hunters and 
goddess of the moon. 


BAU'CIS AND PHI-LE'MON 

Jupiter and Mercury once came to earth and 
were kindly received by Baucis and her husband 
Philemon. A feast was made for the gods, who 
in gratitude promised the old couple the desire of 
their hearts. 

Bau'cis 


Phi-le'mon 








BAUCIS AND PHILEMON 


Sometimes gods and goddesses left their homes 
and visited the earth. 

Once Jupiter and his son Mercury, Jupiter's 
favorite companion, journeyed together on earth. 
Jupiter told his son to leave behind the wings of 
his cap and slippers, for people would surely rec- 
ognize him by them. The gods decided that they 
would pose as weary travelers seeking food and 
shelter. From door to door they went, but found 
everywhere that people were not anxious to be 
disturbed by strangers. 

At last they came to a humble dwelling, a 
tiny cottage with a thatched roof. Here lived 
two old people: Baucis, a good woman, with 
her kind husband Philemon. These two had 
married when they were young and had lived 
happily through the long years together. They 
were very poor, but were neither ashamed of their 
poverty nor unhappy because of it. Without 

E 49 


50 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

children or servants, the old people lived with 
each other contentedly. To their humble home 
the two gods came as travelers weary from their 
journey. Philemon greeted them and offered 
them chairs. While Baucis was rekindling her fire, 
which had been covered for the night, and pre- 
paring for the guests a simple meal, her husband 
went to the little garden and gathered for her a 
few vegetables and herbs. After Baucis had made 
these ready for use, she filled a bowl with warm 
water that the guests might refresh themselves 
by bathing after their dusty journey. All the 
while, the gods talked to the old couple and 
learned about their long and happy life together. 

Soon Baucis started to set the table. A bench 
was drawn up and on it was placed a cushion for 
the guests. Over the cushion, Baucis spread a 
piece of fine linen which she used only for company. 
Then with sweet-smelling herbs, she rubbed the 
table and set on it olives, cornel berries preserved 
in vinegar, radishes, and cheese; and from the 
ashes she took the eggs she had been cooking. 
Presently the stew was ready. Though the dishes 
were earthenware and the water was served in 


BAUCIS AND PHILEMON 


51 


wooden cups, the stew was smoking-hot. The 
travelers, after all the unkindness they had just 
met, appreciated the old couple’s efforts and 
showed their appreciation by eating heartily. A 
dessert of apples and honey followed. 

While they were eating and busily engaged in 
conversation, Baucis, the careful hostess, noticed 
that the wine, though much was poured out of the 
pitcher, did not grow less. This aroused her 
suspicions that hers were no ordinary guests, but 
visitors from among the gods. 

When Baucis felt sure that she was entertain- 
ing gods, she commenced to apologize that her 
fare had not been better. It was, she said, the 
best they had. But they did have an old pet 
goose which they now tried to catch, that they 
might have a dish fit for the gods. The wise old 
goose escaped from them and took refuge between 
Jupiter and Mercury. The gods protected the 
creature, saying : “We are really gods, as you have 
guessed. This inhospitable village shall pay the 
penalty for not receiving us. You alone shall 
escape punishment. Leave your house and come 
with us to the top of yonder hill.” 


52 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

Quickly the good people obeyed, and climbed, 
staff in hand, to the hilltop. When they were 
nearly to the summit, they turned to look back. 
Behold ! The country below was sinking and 
water was flooding in. While they were looking 
and sorrowing over the fate of their neighbors, 
they were astonished to see the ground on which 
their little home stood rising up as an island in the 
midst of a great lake. Huge columns took the 
place of the corner posts; the thatch turned 
yellow and a golden roof appeared; the floors 
became marble and the doors were ornamented 
with carving and overlaid with gold. 

Jupiter, seeing the mingled sorrow and surprise 
of the two old folks, spoke gently to them. “Ex- 
cellent old friends, speak, tell us your wishes. 
What favor have you to ask of us ?” Baucis and 
Philemon consulted shortly, and then Philemon 
declared to the gods their one desire. “We ask 
to be your servants. And since we have passed 
our lives in love and concord, we wish that 
one and the same hour may take us both from 
life.” 

Jupiter heard and granted their prayer. As 


BAUCIS AND PHILEMON 


53 


long as they lived, they were priests and guard- 
ians of the temple that stood where their little 
home had been. But the day came when Jupiter 
changed them at the same instant into two trees, 
and still in this form they guard the gate to 
his temple. 


E'CHO 

Echo was punished by Juno and given the 
the power of speaking only in reply. She pined 
away for Nar-cis'sus, a beautiful youth. Then 

he fell in love with , but have you ever seen 

the narcissus? 































ECHO AND NARCISSUS 


Echo was a beautiful nymph who lived in the 
woods and hills. She devoted herself to woodland 
sports and often followed Diana in the chase. 
But Echo had one fault. She was entirely too 
fond of talking. 

One day Juno, missing Jupiter, sought her lord 
among the nymphs, for she never forgot his 
fondness for lovely girls. Echo first saw her 
coming, and, knowing her errand, the nymph 
stopped the goddess. Echo prattled to Juno a 
long time. Jupiter, warned meanwhile, had time 
to escape. When Juno found what Echo had 
done, she was angry and cursed the nymph 
thus : "You shall not have the use of your tongue 
with which you have cheated me, except for that 
one purpose you are so fond of, — the purpose of 
reply. You shall have henceforth only the power 
of the last word.” 

Soon after this, Echo came upon Narcissus, 
57 


58 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


a beautiful youth, as he was hunting in the woods. 
She immediately fell in love with him. She longed 
to speak to him, but owing to Juno's curse she could 
not. Nevertheless, much to his disgust, she would 
follow Narcissus in the chase. One day, when 
separated from a companion of his hunt, he shouted 
loudly, “Who's here?" Echo replied, “Here." 
Narcissus saw no one and again called, “Come." 
Echo answered, “Come." As no one came, he 
called, “Why do you shun me?" and Echo in 
turn asked the same question. “Let's join one 
another," said Narcissus. “Join one another," 
joyfully responded the maiden, as she hastened to 
throw her arms around his neck. Startled at her 
appearance, he drew away. “ Hands off," he cried. 
“I would rather die than that you should have 
me." Echo, broken-hearted and in despair, cried, 
“Have me." But Narcissus scorned and left her. 

Echo, in shame, took to the cliffs and the caves. 
Her body shrank with grief, and gradually she 
faded away. At last there was left of her only 
a voice. And still her voice haunts the caves 
and mountains. 

This was not the only instance of Narcissus's 






60 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


cruelty and heartlessness. He always ran away 
from the nymphs who loved him, and left them to 
grief. One maiden who had tried in vain to 
attract him and win his love prayed to the gods 
that some day Narcissus himself might feel 
the grief of loving in vain. The gods heard, and 
this is how they answered her prayer. 

In the midst of the forest where Narcissus 
roamed was a sheltered dell. Here lay a lovely, 
clear pool. No shepherd or hunter, no wild beast, 
ever drank here. The clouds and the stars used 
the pool for a mirror. 

One day as Narcissus was hunting through the 
mountains, he came to the lovely pool. He was 
tired and warm and thirsty, and he stooped at 
the edge of the pool to drink. As he did so, he 
saw a face in the clear depths of the water. The 
spot was so pretty and the image in the water so 
lovely that he thought this fountain must be the 
home of some lovely water nymph. The boy stood 
and gazed, admiring the bright eyes and the 
golden hair that curled like that of Bacchus or 
Apollo. He admired the white neck and the 
flushed cheeks. He fell in love with the image. \ 


ECHO AND NARCISSUS 


61 


Narcissus brought his lips near to the surface of 
the water to take a kiss. He plunged his arms in 
to embrace the lovely creature. It fled at his 
touch, but returned again after a minute as beau- 
tiful as before. 

Narcissus forgot his sports and companions. He 
forgot food and sleep. For days and days he 
gazed at the image. He talked imploringly to 
it. "Why, beautiful one, do you shun me? 
Surely my face does not frighten you. The 
nymphs love me and you look at me without fear. 
When I stretch out my arms, you stretch out yours. 
When I smile, you smile in return. When I 
blush, you answer me with blushes.” His tears 
fell in the water and drove the face away. "Stay, 
stay, I beg you. Let me gaze on your beauty, 
though I may not touch you." With words like 
these he wooed the nymph. 

Many days Narcissus watched. He grew pale 
and weak. The beauty which had so charmed 
Echo and the other nymphs left him. And the 
nymph in the pool, too, was losing her bloom. Her 
eyes grew large and pitiful and her face met her 
lover's weakly. 


62 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


Narcissus pined thus until he died. He did not 
know that the nymph he loved was only his own 
image in the water. That beauty of his which 
had broken the hearts of the nymphs was his own 
destruction. But though hard-hearted so long, he 
had been faithful in his own love. For this the 
gods pitied him. So it was that when the nymphs 
came to bury his body they could find it nowhere. 
Where it had lain they saw a tiny flower. The 
petals were white and the heart within was purple. 
Even to-day it is called by his name, Narcissus. 


HER'CU-LES 


Her'cu-les, like many others, suffered because 
of Juno's jealousy. Even when he was a baby 
she tried to kill him, and all through his life she 
made his pathway hard. 

An-tae'us 
Ca'cus 


Gi-bral'tar 

Eu-rys'theus 






HERCULES 


We have read that Hercules set Prometheus 
free. Hercules was the son of Jupiter whom Juno 
most hated. She was cruel to him from his birth. 
Even when he was a tiny baby in his cradle she 
sent two great snakes to kill him. But she for- 
got the power of Jupiter. He gave the infant 
strength. The little Hercules caught one snake 
in one hand and one in the other and squeezed 
them to death. 

Hercules was educated under Cheiron, the wise 
centaur, part man and part horse. Cheiron 
trained many of the heroes. To Hercules in his 
youth, two women appeared at the parting of the 
ways. One was Pleasure, the other Virtue. 
Pleasure offered Hercules a life of happy ease; 
Virtue offered him a rugged, toilsome path and 
hard tasks that would make him strong. Hercules 
chose the path of Virtue. 

The gods were with Hercules. Apollo and 

f 65 



The Infant Hercules 




HERCULES 


67 


Minerva befriended him. But Juno still tor- 
mented him. She drove him insane, and in his 
madness he slew his wife and children. Because 
of this he had to serve Eurystheus, who planned 
twelve of the hardest tasks he could think of for 
Hercules to perform. You will hear these tasks 
called “the labors of Hercules.” 

First, Hercules was ordered to kill a great lion. 
He took with him his club and arrows, but he did 
not have to use them. With his powerful hands 
he strangled the lion and carried the skin to Eurys- 
theus. Always after this, Hercules wore the 
Nemean lion's skin as a cloak. 

Hercules was commanded to bring home from 
a great distance some oxen which belonged to a 
terrible monster and which were guarded by a 
giant and his two-headed dog. Hercules easily 
killed the giant and his dog. He stole the oxen 
and bore them safely to Eurystheus. It was on 
this trip to the far west that a mountain stood in 
his way. So he rent it in twain and left it stand- 
ing as it still does, half on one side of the narrow 
water and half on the other. We call the water 
between the Strait of Gibraltar, and the cloven 


68 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


parts of the mountain we call the Pillars of Her- 
cules. 

As Hercules was driving the oxen home, a giant 
named Cacus stole some of them and hid them in 
a cave. This old fellow dragged the oxen in by 
their tails so that their tracks would not tell 
Hercules where they were and he would think 
they had been led away. Hercules, deceived for 
a time, was leading his remaining cattle away. 
One of them lowed. The cattle in the cave an- 
swered the lowings of those outside ; and so Hercu- 
les found them. 

Juno punished Hercules with many other ad- 
ventures and labors. But he was always the 
victor. He had never forsaken Virtue, and she 
ever rewarded him with great strength. Over 
rough and rugged paths he had followed her. 
Thus his strength developed till he was able to 
overcome all enemies. 


CAD'MUS 

Cad'mus was sent to find his sister Eu-ro'pa, 
whom Jupiter had stolen. Afraid to go home 
without her, he wandered far. Did you ever 
hear of planting dragon’s teeth? They brought 
a strange harvest for Cadmus. 

Cad'mus Eu-ro'pa 

Phce-ni'cia Thebes 





















CADMUS, THE BUILDER OF A CITY 


You would think, wouldn't you, that after 
getting in so much trouble over mortal maidens 
and having Juno angry with him so many times, 
Jupiter would learn to behave? Strange as it 
may seem, he managed to forget his former scrapes 
and was no sooner out of one than he was in an- 
other. He loved Europa, the daughter of the 
king of Phoenicia. After changing himself into 
a beautiful white bull, he ran off with her on his 
back. He carried her across the waves to the 
land he called by her name, Europe. 

The old king was sadly grieved at the loss of 
his daughter. He sent forth his sons to find her. 
They were not to return without Europa. 

After a long while the other sons gave up the 
search and settled in a strange country. But 
one brother, Cadmus, was more faithful. Yet 
he was greatly troubled, for he knew not where 
to search farther, and he dared not return home 
71 


72 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

without his sister. So he went to the oracle of 
Apollo at Delphi and asked what he must do. 
The oracle replied, “Follow the cow.” 

Puzzled, Cadmus left the oracle and traveled 
over the plains. He beheld before him a cow. 
Slowly she walked on before him. He determined 
to follow her, as the oracle had directed. See- 
ing the strange procession, others attached them- 
selves, anxious to follow the adventure to its 
finish. So they all continued after the cow. At 
last the cow crossed a narrow channel of water 
and lay down upon the plain beyond. Cadmus 
fell on his knees and thanked the gods that he 
had been brought safely by their help to the spot 
on which he was to build a new city. 

Near by, there was an ancient grove., Never 
had an ax touched one of its trees. In the midst 
of this grove there was a cave, and from the 
entrance to the cave, a fountain of clearest, purest 
water burst forth. In this cave a serpent lived. 
The scales on his body glittered and sparkled like 
gold. He had a huge crest, and so full was he 
of poison that his body seemed swollen. From 
his mouth vibrated a three-pointed tongue. No 



Juno 




74 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


sooner had the servants, the followers of Cadmus, 
whom he had now sent for water, dipped their 
pitchers in the water of the fountain, than the 
serpent shot his head out of the cave and hissed 
a long and echoing hiss. The men were so terri- 
fied that they could not flee. The serpent struck 
with this three-pointed tongue, killing several of 
them. Others he crushed in his huge coils, and 
yet others his poison-laden breath destroyed. 

Cadmus waited long for his servants before 
he went to look for them. He grew uneasy. 
Fearing that they had encountered some enemy, 
he put on his lion’s skin and set out to find them. 
Besides his weapons of iron, javelin and lance, he 
carried in his breast a brave and courageous heart. 

As he entered the wood, he saw the bodies of 
his faithful followers. He saw the great monster 
with his jaws still bloody from the feast. He 
took up a great rock and hurled it at the serpent. 
Such a stone might have crushed a house, 
but it made not even a dent in the body of the 
dragon. Cadmus then threw his javelin. This 
pierced the scales of the serpent and stuck into 
his body. The monster raised his head high, 


CADMUS, THE BUILDER OF A CITY 75 

saw the spear in his back, and grasped it with his 
mouth to pull it out, but the spear broke and left 
its point in his flesh. The pain made him more 
angry than before. He swelled with rage. He 
filled the air with bloody foam and poisonous 
breath. Then, as fast as his wounded back would 
let him, he started after Cadmus. Cadmus 
picked a time when the head of the monster was 
opposite a tree, then the hero threw his javelin. 
The weapon pierced the head of the serpent and 
pinned it fast to the tree. 

As Cadmus stood looking at the beast he had 
overcome, he heard a voice speaking to him. 
“Take the three rows of teeth from the dragon's 
mouth and plant them in the earth," said the voice. 
Cadmus knew that the voice came from a god. 
He pulled out the teeth. He dug a furrow in the 
ground. He sowed the teeth and covered them 
with dirt. No sooner had he finished than the 
clods of earth began to move. Points of spears 
shot up through the ground. Next the plumes of 
helmets came up and then the heads and shoul- 
ders of men. Finally the bodies were entirely 
above the ground. The serpent's teeth had pro- 


76 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


duced a crop of armed men. The voice called to 
Cadmus, “Throw a stone among them.” As 
the stone fell in their midst, the soldiers began to 
attack each other fiercely. All but five of the 
men were presently killed. The survivors threw 
away their weapons and joined Cadmus. On the 
plain near the cave where the serpent had lived 
they built a city, the city of Thebes. 


THE OR'A-CLE OF APOLLO 

People often consulted the oracle of Apollo 
at Del'phi. I know you want to know what the 
oracle was. 






THE ORACLE OF APOLLO 


You will often notice in these stories, that 
some one is said to have consulted the oracle, so 
you must know what the oracle was and how it 
came to be. 

Long ages ago, shepherds who cared for their 
herds as they grazed near Mount Parnassus noticed 
that when the sheep and goats went near a cer- 
tain long, deep cleft in the side of the mountain, 
they were thrown into convulsions or fits. This, 
the shepherds said, was on account of a peculiar 
gas that escaped from between the rocks. One 
old shepherd thought that since it affected his 
flock as it did, he would try its effect on himself. 
As be neared the place, a strange feeling took pos- 
session of him. He behaved just as his herd had 
done. But instead of making the terrible noise 
that the animals had made, the shepherd talked 
as if he were drunk. The people in the country 
round about heard the story that this shepherd 
79 


80 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


told. They decided that the vapor must be the 
breath of a god, that the words an affected person 
spoke were inspired by the god, and were therefore 
the words of the god. 

Later a temple was built over the rock and 
dedicated to Apollo. Over the spot where the 
gas escaped, a tripod was placed, and on this tri- 
pod sat a virgin priestess crowned with the laurel 
sacred to Apollo. The priestess was affected by 
the fumes, and when she spoke, the words that 
she uttered were supposed to be the words of the 
god. 

Whenever any one was in trouble about a matter 
or was in doubt as to what to do, he sent to the 
Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. Whatever the oracle 
bade them do, they did, for the oracle spoke the 
will of the god. 


APOLLO AND DAPH'NE 

Apollo loved Daphne. Cu'pid knew why ! 
But she scorned him and was finally changed 
into, — yet I must not tell you what. You will 
find out. 

Bel've-dere Py'thon Del'phos 

Hy'men De'los Ten'e-dos 














Apollo Belvedere 







APOLLO AND DAPHNE 


Apollo and his twin sister Diana, as we have 
said, were born on the island of Delos, where 
Latona had taken refuge from Juno. Jupiter 
was the father of these twins, Apollo, the god of 
music, and Diana, the goddess of hunting; and 
of course Juno was jealous of their mother. 

Apollo was skilled in the use of the bow and 
arrow and often slew hares, wild goats, and such 
small game. His greatest feat of arms, and 
one of which he was proud, was the slaying of the 
great serpent Python. Python lived in a cave, 
and, whenever he crept forth, spread terror among 
mortals. This enemy of man, Apollo slew with 
his arrows. In honor of his deed, Apollo insti- 
tuted the games known as the Pythian games. 
At these games trials of strength took place, foot 
races, and chariot races. There were contests, 
too, in music, poetry, and oratory. The victor 
in these games was always crowned with a wreath 
of beech leaves, because Apollo, when he instituted 
85 


86 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


the Pythian games, had not yet adopted the laurel 
as his own tree. The famous statue of Apollo, 
called the Belvedere, represents the god just 
after his victory over the serpent Python. 

Apollo, like the other gods, often became 
subject to the charm of mortal girls. An early 
love of his was named Daphne. He did not, as 
we say, “fall in love” with her. It was Cupid 
who caused him to love her. Cupid was the son 
of the beautiful Venus, and was called “the Little 
Love God.” One day Apollo saw Cupid playing 
with his bow and arrows. Much puffed up 
over his recent slaying of the Python, Apollo was 
fretted at seeing young Cupid with his weapons. 
So he spoke thus to him : “What have you to do 
with warlike weapons, saucy boy? Leave them 
for hands worthy of them. Behold the conquest 
I have won by means of them over the vast ser- 
pent who stretched his poisonous body across the 
plains ! Be content with your torch, child, and 
kindle up your flames of love, as you call them, 
where you will. But do not dare meddle with 
my weapons.” 

Cupid grew angry at the god's words. He 


APOLLO AND DAPHNE 87 

answered Apollo, “Your arrows may strike all 
things, Apollo, but mine shall strike you/' 

Young Cupid had arrows of two kinds. One 
kind was tipped with gold and very sharp at 
the point. When this pierced a person’s heart, 
he was seized with violent love for another. Then 
Cupid had a dull-pointed variety of arrow, which 
was tipped with lead. When pierced by such an 
arrow, a person grew sick of the thought of love 
and would listen to no words of the lover. So 
Cupid pierced Apollo’s heart with a sharp and 
golden arrow, and immediately Apollo was seized 
with love for Daphne. But this maiden, a beauti- 
ful nymph, Cupid struck with the point of lead, and 
forthwith she grew sick of the thought of Apollo’s 
love. Daphne delighted in woodland sports 
and in the chase. She spurned her many lovers. 
When her father, anxious for her to marry, said 
to her, “Daughter, you owe me a son-in-law ; you 
owe me grandchildren,” she would blush and throw 
her arms around his neck, begging that she might 
always remain unmarried like the goddess Diana. 
But her father, knowing how lovely she was, said, 
as he consented, “Your own face will forbid it.” 


88 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


And so it did. Apollo loved Daphne and longed 
for her. But she would listen to no word he said. 
She fled from him through the woodlands ; Apollo 
followed. Daphne fled swift as the wind. Swifter 
still, Apollo pursued her. “Stay/' he cried. 
“ Beautiful Daphne, I am not a foe. Do not fly 
from me as a lamb does from a wolf, or as a dove 
from a hawk. It is for love I pursue you. You 
make me miserable for fear you might fall and 
hurt yourself. Pray run slower, and I will follow 
slower. I am no clown, no rude peasant. Jupi- 
ter is my father, and I am lord of Delphos and 
Tenedos. I am the god of song and of the lyre. 
My arrows fly true to the mark; but, alas, an 
arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart ! 
I am the god of medicine and know the virtues 
of all healing plants, but my own sickness no herb 
can cure !” 

Still Daphne fled ; still the god followed. 
At last she felt his panting breath blowing on 
her hair. At last she felt her strength leaving 
her. Pitifully she called on her father, the river 
god Peneus, to protect her. “Help me, dear 
father ! Open the earth to inclose me, or change 





90 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


my form which has brought me into this danger ! ” 
She had scarcely spoken when a stiffness seized 
her beautiful limbs; her bosom began to be in- 
closed in a tender bark and leaves came in place 
of her streaming hair ; her arms became branches 
and her feet stuck fast to the ground. 

Apollo drew near. He stood amazed. He 
touched the stem and felt the tremble of her flesh 
under the bark. He embraced the branches and 
lavished kisses on the wood. “ Since you cannot 
be my wife, you shall assuredly be my tree. I 
will wear you for my crown ; I will decorate with 
you my heart and my quiver ; and when the great 
Roman conquerors march in triumphal pomp up 
to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths 
for their brows. And as eternal youth is mine, 
you shall be always green, and your leaf know no 
decay.’ ’ 

So Apollo swore; and Daphne, now changed 
into a laurel tree, bowed her head. And to-day 
those who win honors in music or poetry or in 
feats of strength are crowned, not with beech 
leaves, but with a wreath of laurel, ever green and 
reminding us of Apollo’s beautiful love, Daphne. 


CLY'TIE 


Cly'tie pined away because she loved Apollo 
and he did not love her. She was changed into 
a flower you know. 















I 



CLYTIE 


Clytie was a beautiful water nymph who loved 
Apollo. But Cupid, you remember, had pierced 
Apollo's heart with a dart. He loved Daphne, 
and could not at the same time love Clytie. She 
grieved and grieved because she was not noticed 
by the lovely sun god. 

She sat all day on the cold ground with her hair 
loose over her shoulders and pined for her lover. 
Nine days and nine nights she sat thus. She 
tasted neither food nor drink. She did not 
sleep. All day she gazed on the sun as he rose 
in his fiery chariot in the heavens. She watched 
faithfully his course until he set in the western 
heaven at night. Her eyes were on him con- 
stantly. She saw nothing else. At last, they 
say, her limbs became rooted in the ground and 
her face became a flower which wears, as the sun 
god does, a crown of golden rays. We call the 
flower the sunflower, for in memory of Clytie 
93 


94 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


and her love for Apollo, the sun god, it watches 
his course every day. 

This flower is an emblem of constancy. The 
English poet Moore says of it: 

“ The heart that has truly loved, never forgets, 

But as truly loves on to the close, 

As the Sun- Flower turns on her God when he sets 
The same look that she turned when he rose.” 



mmm 

Wmm 




SIfil 




1 




ifiiPJ 

illllf 

&<fwSi 




£sm J 


“ All day she gazed on the sun.” 

















APOLLO AND HY-A-CINTHUS 


Apollo and Hy'acinthus were playing at quoits 
one day, when jealous Zeph'y-nis caused a sad 
ending to their sport. Can you think of a flower 
with a name that reminds you of Hyacinthus? 


APOLLO PLAYS WITH HYACINTHUS 


Apollo loved, because of his beauty, a young 
man, named Hyacinthus. The god went with 
this youth in his sports, carried the nets when 
Hyacinthus went fishing, led his dogs in the hunt, 
and followed the boy in his rambles among the 
mountains. For Hyacinthus, Apollo often neg- 
lected his arrows and his lyre. One day the god 
was teaching his favorite the game of quoits. 
This game of quoits is like a game of pitching 
horseshoes, which children often play. Some play 
it with silver dollars. In each case the purpose 
is the same. The players see who can throw 
the piece the farthest. Apollo and Hyacinthus 
played with a large, round piece of metal, called 
a discus. 

Apollo, heaving the discus with all his might 
andskill,sent it far andhigh. Hyacinthus watched 
the discus as it left Apollo's hand and flew through 
the air. He marveled at the skill of his friend. 

90 


100 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


Anxious for his turn, he darted forward. As he 
did so, the discus bounded from the earth and 
struck him in the forehead. He fainted and fell. 
Apollo, as pale as the boy, picked him up and tried 
to stop the blood gushing from the wound. With 
his skill in medicine he tried vainly to save the 
life of his young playmate. The hurt was past 
the power of medicine. Hyacinthus lay as white 
and limp as a lily when its stem is broken. 

“Thou diest,” said the sad Apollo, “robbed of 
thy youth by me. But since I cannot restore 
thee to life, thou shalt live in memory. My 
lyre shall celebrate thee ; my song shall tell of thy 
fate, and thou shalt become a flower to be mine al- 
ways.” As Apollo was speaking, the blood, which 
had flowed on the ground and stained the grass, 
was no longer blood. Instead, in the place where 
it dropped, there sprang up a flower. The color 
of this flower was more beautiful than if it had been 
dyed with the costly Tyrian purple, and its shape 
was like the lily. Apollo called it, for his friend 
from whose blood it sprang, “Hyacinth.” 

And this, some of the story-tellers say, was 
why the quoit struck Hyacinthus: The West 


APOLLO PLAYS WITH HYACINTHUS 101 



“ As he did so the discus bounded from the earth and struck 
him in the forehead. He fainted and fell." 


102 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

Wind, whose name was Zephyrus, was jealous 
because Hyacinthus, whom he loved, so loved the 
company of Apollo. And when Apollo threw the 
quoit, the jealous Zephyrus blew it out of its 
course and caused it to kill Hyacinthus. 



* • 

PHA-E'TON 

This young son of Apollo undertook to drive 
his father's sun chariot through the sky. He had 
adventures, as you will see. 


PHAETON IN THE SUN CHARIOT 


Phaeton was the son of Apollo. His mother, 
the beautiful nymph Clymene, often boasted to 
him of his divine birth. Phaeton, as he grew 
older, began to boast proudly of his father. 

One day a playmate laughed at Phaeton for 
saying his father was a god. The boy, who was 
the son of Jupiter and Io, told Phaeton that he 
did not believe Phaeton knew who his father was. 
Phaeton was angry. Going to his mother, he 
demanded, “ If my father is really a god, give me 
some proof of it.” His mother stretched out her 
hands toward the skies and said, “I call the Sun 
which looks down upon us, to witness that I have 
told you the truth. If I speak falsely, let this be 
the last time that I behold his light. Go yourself 
and ask him.” 

Phaeton determined to start at once for the 
palace of his father. He traveled east toward the 
land of the rising sun. His heart was full of 
105 


106 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


hope as he neared the palace from which the sun 
god Apollo began his daily course. 

The palace of the sun was beautiful to behold. 
Huge columns supported the great dome roof, 
a-glitter with gold and precious stones. Ivory, 
polished and carved, formed the ceilings, and the 
doors were of silver. Vulcan, the fire god, the 
lame son of Jupiter who forged all his father's 
thunderbolts, had decorated the walls to repre- 
sent the earth, the sea, and the sky. In the sea 
were pictured nymphs riding on the waves, or 
seated on the backs of huge fish or reclining upon 
the rocks. 

Phaeton, overcome by so much splendor, timidly 
approached the throne where Apollo sat. At a 
distance from the throne, he stopped a moment, 
for the light was too bright for his eyes. As his 
eyes grew accustomed to the glory, he beheld 
Apollo clad in a purple robe, such as kings wear, 
and seated on a throne which glittered with dia- 
monds. About the god stood the Day, the 
Months, and the Year, and behind them were the 
Hours. Spring was there wearing a wreath of 
fresh flowers on her golden hair. Summer wore 


PHAETON IN THE SUN CHARIOT 107 


a crown of ripened grain. Autumn in his robe of 
red and gold bore huge bunches of ripe grapes, 
and Icy Winter stood in rags, stiff with frost, 
apart from the others. 

Apollo, who had noticed the boy, wondered 
what his errand might be. In kind tones Apollo 
spoke. The youth replied, “ 0 Light of the World, 
Apollo, My Father, if you will allow me to use that 
name, give me some proof, I beg you, by which 
people may know that I am your son.” As he 
stopped speaking, Apollo took the boy in his arms 
and embracing him said, “My son, what your 
mother has told you is true. That you may doubt 
no longer, ask what you will. The gift shall be 
yours.” He swore by the river Styx that he 
would grant the youth's request. 

Quickly Phaeton replied, “Let me drive, just 
one day, your chariot of the sun.” The father 
was shocked at his request. He at once regretted 
his promise. “I have spoken rashly,” he said. 
“This is the only request I would not grant. Do 
not ask this, my son. It is not safe, and your 
strength is not equal to the task. You are mortal, 
yet you ask something beyond a mortal's power. 


108 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


You ask to do what the gods may not. Not 
Jupiter himself can drive over the dangerous 
road. None but myself can drive the car of day. 
The way is steep and perilous. About the track 
wheel the stars, and the path is beset with the 
terrible monsters of the sky. The lion's jaw will 
wait for you. The scorpion and crab stretch out 
their claws. My horses are mighty and untamed. 
Their breasts are full of the fire that they breathe 
forth through their mouths and nostrils. I my- 
self can scarcely govern them. I would not like 
to harm you. Change your request. My fear 
for you is proof that you are my son. Yet ask 
whatever you want in earth or sky. Only, I beg 
you not to urge your request to drive through 
the heavens. It is not honor, but destruction, 
you seek." 

Thus Apollo ended. He had advised, urged, and 
done all but refuse. That he could not do. He 
had sworn by the mightiest oath to keep his word. 
But Phaeton persisted in his request. 

As Apollo could do no more, he at last led Phae- 
ton to the place where the chariot stood. Vulcan 
had forged it of pure gold. Along the seat were 


PHAETON IN THE SUN CHARIOT 109 


rows of precious gems sparkling in the brightness 
of the sun. The daring youth gazed at the 
chariot and admired its beauty. Early Dawn 
opened the purple doors of the far east and showed 
the path strewn with roses. The stars, one by 
one, took their flight. Apollo, when he saw the 
Moon leaving, ordered the Hours to harness the 
horses. They obeyed and led forth the fiery 
beasts, fresh from their night’s rest. Apollo 
placed on Phaeton’s brow his crown of rays, and, 
sighing, told him good-by. “Take my advice, 
my son, spare the whip and hold tight the reins. 
The steeds go fast enough of their own accord. 
You will see the track the chariot made as I drove 
yesterday. Follow it. The skies and the earth 
need the same heat, so go neither too high nor too 
low. If you go too high, you will burn the homes 
of the gods. If too low, you will set the earth 
on fire. The middle course is safest and best. 
Now I leave you and trust you will do better than 
I think. Night is passing out of the Gates of the 
West and we can delay no longer. Take the 
reins.” 

But Apollo did not hand the reins over imme- 


110 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


diately, for he hoped that Phaeton's heart would 
fail. He whispered to him, “Stay, my son, safe 
here in your father's palace. I will warm and light 
the earth." But Phaeton was determined. Seiz- 
ing the reins, he sprang into the chariot. The 
horses, anxious to be off, stood pawing the ground 
and filling the air with their snortings and fiery 
breath. 

The bars are let down now, and the boundless 
plain of the world lies open before them. They 
dart forward and upward. They split the clouds. 
They outrun the morning breezes which started 
with them. At once the horses feel the lighter 
hand and weight. As a ship which has no ballast 
is tossed by the winds on the sea, so the chariot 
dashes on. The horses rush headlong. Phaeton 
finds that he cannot guide them. 

Then Phaeton, looking down to the earth, sees 
its vast extent stretched below him. He pales. 
His knees shake with terror. There is light 
all about him, but fear blinds him. He wishes he 
had never heard of his father's horses. He is 
sorry he ever touched them. He wishes he had 
never tried to find out whether or not Apollo was 


PHAETON IN THE SUN CHARIOT 111 

his father. In every direction he looks for help. 
He does not know what to do. He does not 
remember whether Apollo said that he must hold 
the lines tight or let them hang loose. He even 
forgets the names of the horses. 

In this state was Phaeton when he caught the 
first glimpse of the Scorpion, with its great arms 
stretching as if to clutch him and its mouth 
shooting out fangs to poison him. He lost cour- 
age entirely. His hands grew limp. The reins 
fell on the horses’ backs. As they felt the reins 
fall, they dashed off headlong into regions of the 
sky where they had never been before. They 
hurled the chariot, now high up and now low to 
the earth. The Great Bear and the Little Bear 
were scorched by the heat and tried to plunge 
into the water. The huge serpent which lies 
coiled, harmless and asleep, around the North Pole, 
grew warm, uncoiled, and became fierce and ven- 
omous. 

Then the clouds began to smoke and the moun- 
tain tops to catch on fire. The fields were burnt 
with heat and the crops withered. Great cities 
blazed, and whole nations were destroyed. 


112 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


The Earth grew desperate and raised her voice 
to Jupiter. “0 Ruler of the Gods/' she prayed, 
“ why do you withhold your thunderbolts ? Soon 
the earth, the sea, and the sky will be consumed. 
Is it thus you reward my fertility ? Is it thus that 
you treat me after I have supplied feed for your 
cattle, fruits for your men, and incense for your 
altars ? ” 

Jupiter, seeing the destruction, took up a fork 
of lightning and hurled it out into the heaven. 
It hit Phaeton and struck him from the seat of 
the chariot. With his hair on fire, the boy shot 
headlong like a falling star, leaving behind him 
a trail of light. A great river received his body. 
The nymphs built for him a tomb and on the stone 
carved these lines : 

“ Driver of Apollo’s chariot, Phaeton, 

Struck by Jupiter’s thunder, rests beneath this 
stone, 

He could not rule his father’s car of fire, 

Yet was it much so nobly to aspire.” 

(Ovid) 

Phaeton’s sisters, the Heliades, wept comfortless 
until they were turned into poppy trees. Still 


PHAETON IN THE SUN CHARIOT 113 


dropping tears of amber, they are standing on the 
banks of the river. 

And on the river sails Cycnus, the friend of 
Phaeton . who loved him most. This boy con- 
tinued to haunt the river, watching for some sign 
of Phaeton until, because of his devotion, the gods 
changed him into a swan. 














HOW CERES LOST PROSERPINE 

Cupid was never idle. He caused Ce'res a 
great deal of trouble by sending an arrow into the 
heart of Pluto. 


Et'na 

Sic'i-ly 


Ce'le-us 

Cy'a-ne 
























































































































































































































































































































































































% 




























HOW CERES LOST PROSERPINE 


Certain enemies whom the gods overcame in 
their wars with the Titans, they buried alive 
under Mount Etna in Sicily. There these giants 
and monsters still struggle to get loose. Some- 
times in their frenzy they shake the whole island. 
Through the mountain tops they shoot their fiery 
breath, and so make what men call a volcano. 

Such convulsions did these creatures bring 
about, that Pluto feared they would break the 
earth's surface and let light into his dark king- 
dom. So Pluto, the king of the underworld and 
the ruler of the dead, often drove about the island 
of Sicily to examine into the extent of the damage. 

For this purpose, Pluto came one day to earth 
in his heavy iron chariot drawn by strong black 
horses. As he was driving about, Venus saw him. 
She said to Cupid, with whom she was playing, 
“My son, take the darts with which you conquer 
all and send one into the breast of yonder dark 


118 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


king. None shall despise your power and mine. 
Diana, the huntress, and Minerva, the wise one, 
despise us. And so now does Proserpine, the 
daughter of Ceres. Show her what you can do. 
Send an arrow into the heart of the great Pluto 
that he may be stricken with love for her.” 

The boy Cupid loosed his quiver and took out 
a sharp and true arrow. He bent his bow over 
his knee and let the arrow fly straight to the heart 
of Pluto. 

In a lovely valley where the earth is covered 
with flowers and where spring reigns eternally, 
the maiden Proserpine was playing with her 
companions. They were gathering lilies and vio- 
lets and filling their baskets and aprons with them. 
Upon them as they sported in this dell plunged 
Pluto in his dark car. Frightened, the maidens 
fled. But Proserpine, the daughter of the goddess 
Ceres, stood straight and beautiful, staring in 
surprise and fear at the god. No sooner did Pluto 
see her than he loved her. Quickly he seized her 
in his strong arms and carried her off. 

Proserpine screamed for help. She called her 
companions. She called her mother. She pleaded 


HOW CERES LOST PROSERPINE 119 



“But Proserpine, the daughter of the goddess Ceres, stood 
straight and beautiful, staring in surprise and fear at the 
god.” 


with the dark god. But Pluto paid no attention 
to her tears and her prayers. He urged on his 
horses, calling their names loudly, and as he threw 
the reins loose over their heads, they sped on their 




120 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


homeward way. As Pluto reached the bank of 
the river Cyane, the river began to surge and toss. 
Pluto saw that the river would not let him pass 
over. So he struck the river bank with his tri- 
dent — the three-pronged scepter which he al- 
ways carried — and immediately an underground 
passage opened and he descended with Proser- 
pine down to the lower world. But as they passed 
within, Proserpine flung her girdle to the river, 
hoping the friendly waters would carry it to her 
mother. 

Ceres was grieved over the loss of her daughter. 
In her sorrow she sought Proserpine day and night. 
At last, weary with her fruitless search, she sat 
down by the roadside. For nine days and nine 
nights, she remained on that spot. She had 
nothing to eat and nothing to drink. She had 
nothing to protect her from the sun and the rain. 

Near the place where she sat grieving was the 
home of an old man named Celeus. He was out 
in the fields one day gathering acorns and berries. 
With him was his little daughter, who was driving 
the goats home. As the little girl passed the 
goddess, who appeared as an old woman, she said 


HOW CERES LOST PROSERPINE 121 


to her, “Mother.” At this word, Ceres looked 
up. “Why do you sit alone upon the rocks?” 
Then the old man drew near. He said to Ceres 
that his home was only a poor cottage, but that 
she could find shelter there. 

Finally the goddess consented to accompany 
the kind old man home. On the way he told 
Ceres of his son’s illness. She stooped and plucked 
some poppies. When they reached the cottage 
and Ceres saw the little boy, she kissed his face. 
Immediately he grew rosy and well. 

At supper Ceres put poppy seed in the glass of 
milk meant for the boy. Soon after, he fell into 
a heavy sleep. The goddess rubbed his body with 
oil. She moved to the fire to lay his body among 
the hot coals. At this moment the child’s mother 
entered. She snatched her son from the goddess. 
Ceres, who until now appeared as a weary old 
woman, immediately shone in her true form. She 
reproved the mother. By interfering, she told 
the woman, she had kept from her child the gift 
of immortality. But still Ceres promised that 
the boy should become great in his knowledge of 
the earth and of agriculture. 


122 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


From land to land and over seas Ceres wandered 
now. She came at last to the river bank where 
Pluto had made a gateway to the lower world. 
Here a river nymph gave her the girdle that Proser- 
pine had dropped. Ceres thought that the earth 
had swallowed her daughter. And so she cursed 
the ground. Then, because Ceres was the god- 
dess who controlled all growing plants, the fields 
became barren and the cattle died. Throughout 
the whole earth there was famine and dismay. 

Finally the fountain nymph, Arethusa, said to 
Ceres, who was resting near her, “The earth did 
not hide your daughter. I know where she is.” 
Then she told Ceres that she had seen Proserpine 
sitting at Pluto's side, ruling with him over the 
realms of the dead. 

Then Ceres threatened a fiercer famine on the 
earth. Then it was that men prayed Jupiter 
until his ears grew weary of prayers. The ruler 
of heaven at last sent Mercury to bring Proserpine 
back to earth. 

Pluto was not at all afraid that Proserpine would 
be taken from him. He received Mercury gra- 
ciously. 


HOW CERES LOST PROSERPINE 123 


Now a condition which even Jupiter could not 
alter was that Proserpine might return to earth 
if, while she was in Pluto's kingdom, she had 
eaten no food. But she had one day eaten some 
pomegranate seed which Pluto had given her. 
Yet, as Ceres prepared to curse the earth anew, 
Pluto was forced to make a compromise. It was 
agreed that Proserpine should spend six months 
of each year with him in his kingdom. Then 
she was to return to earth, where, with her mother, 
she could engage in her old duties and her old 
pleasures. 

So it happens that when Proserpine returns to 
Ceres, spring comes back to earth; then come 
months of joy and plenty. But when Proserpine 
goes back to Pluto's throne, the curse of Ceres 
falls upon the ground, and it grows, with the 
mother's grief, cold and barren. 





OR'PHE-US AND EU-RYD'I-CE 


Orpheus had lost Eurydice once and had 
found her. Think of his grief over losing her a 
second time. 




ORPHEUS SEEKS EURYDICE 


Orpheus was one of the sons of Apollo. When 
he was but a child, his father gave him a lyre and 
taught him to play on it so beautifully that noth- 
ing could withstand the charm of his music. 
Beasts, their hearts softened by his strains, for- 
got their fierceness. Even the rocks and the 
trees, hearing him, were glad. 

At their wedding, Hymen, the god of marriage, 
was sent for to come and bless the nuptials. He 
came, but he brought no blessing. Even at the 
wedding his torch smoked and brought tears to 
all eyes. This foretold unhappiness. 

Soon after the wedding Eurydice was seen by 
a shepherd, who tried to woo her. In running 
from him a snake bit her on her foot and so poi- 
soned her that she died. Orpheus sang his grief 
vainly to all gods and men. Then he determined 
to seek his wife in the realms of the dead. 

He descended into the lower world. He came 
at last to the throne where Pluto sat with Proser- 

127 


128 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

pine at his side. Here he stopped and, playing 
an accompaniment on his lyre, sang: “0 gods 
of the under world, to whom all we who live must 
come, hear my words ! I ask of you my wife. 
If you deny me, I shall stay among you. I must 
be with Eurydice.” In a strain so sweet he sang 
his grief, that the spirits wept to hear. Even 
Pluto could not keep back his tears. 

From among the spirits who had lately come 
Eurydice was called. Limping because of her 
wounded foot, she came. She was given to Or-" 
pheus. On one condition he could take her back 
to earth. He must not look back at her until 
they were on the earth again. Orpheus agreed 
to this, — he would have agreed to anything to 
regain Eurydice. Under this condition they 
started. Orpheus led the way. He did not look 
back. But it presently occurred to him that he 
was perhaps dreaming. He turned to see if 
Eurydice was following. As he turned, she van- 
ished from him. Orpheus returned home alone. 

In sorrow he returned to earth. For many 
years he grieved. At last, he, too, went to the 
kingdom of Pluto, to abide with Eurydice forever. 








CUPID AND PSY'CHE 


One day Cupid by accident touched his heart 
with one of his arrows. Alas, Cupid ! Now you 
know the trouble you cause. 























CUPID AND PSYCHE 


Once upon a time a certain king and queen had 
three daughters. Though all were fair, the 
youngest was so surpassingly beautiful that words 
cannot describe her. People who heard of her 
beauty came from countries far away to see if 
what they heard was true. No one was disap- 
pointed. Indeed, the maiden’s loveliness was 
such that many wanted to worship her instead 
of Venus. 

Jealousy took possession of Venus. She wished 
to destroy Psyche and bring back to herself the 
praise she thought due her. “For,” she said, 
“I was given the palm of beauty over my hated 
rivals Juno and Minerva. Shall a mortal girl 
take it from me?” She called Cupid and per- 
suaded him to help her. 

“My son,” she said, “punish this upstart and 
revenge your mother’s injuries. Cause that 
haughty girl to love, — and love passionately, — 
133 


134 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

some low, mean, unworthy being, so that she may 
be as unhappy as she is now happy.” 

Cupid set out to obey his mother’s commands. 
In Venus’s garden stood two fountains; the 
waters of one were sweet and those of the other 
were bitter. Cupid took amber vases and filled 
one at each fountain. Then with bow and arrows 
as usual, and taking the vases, he hastened to 
Psyche’s chamber. He found her asleep. As 
she lay on her couch she was so beautiful that 
Cupid repented of his task, yet remembering his 
mother he reluctantly sprinkled the bitter water 
on Psyche’s lips. She opened her eyes on Cupid. 
He was so startled that he wounded himself with 
one of his own arrows. Cupid, wondering if the 
wound would affect him as it did others, hastened 
to repair the wrong he had done. He poured 
over Psyche’s hair the waters of joy. He felt 
himself unable to injure so lovely a being. 

When Venus found that her plan had failed, 
she was more than ever enraged. She cursed 
Psyche, swearing that no man should ask her 
hand in marriage. 

The two older sisters had married long before. 



Theseus 








136 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


But Psyche had now no lovers. She did not know 
of the curse of Venus. When she looked at her- 
self, she saw that she was as lovely as ever. She 
was the more puzzled to know why no lovers 
sought her. She grew tired of her beauty, which 
awakened no love. 

Psyche’s father and mother were disturbed 
over their daughter’s solitude. They feared that 
without knowing it they might have done some- 
thing to displease the gods. They sent to the 
oracle and inquired the cause. The oracle gave 
this answer. “The virgin is destined for the bride 
of no mortal lover. Her future husband awaits 
her on the top of the mountain. He is a monster 
whom neither the gods nor men can resist.” 

Psyche’s parents were surprised and grieved 
beyond words. But Psyche, who had always 
lamented the worship with which she was flat- 
tered, said to them, “ Now is not the time to worry. 
You should have been anxious when people called 
me a Venus. Now the goddess is angry and is 
causing me to suffer.” 

Tired out with the persecutions of the goddess, 
and seeing nothing but trouble ahead of her, 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


137 


Psyche now determined to die. Toiling up to the 
top of a mountain, she cast herself down a rocky 
precipice. But as she did so, the gentle Zephyr 
came. He raised her in his arms and carried her 
away. He laid her on a grassy bank, where she 
fell asleep. When she opened her eyes and looked 
around, she felt refreshed. Near her stood a 
lovely grove. She wandered into it, and in the 
midst she found a fountain, sending forth waters 
beautiful and clear. Near by she beheld a palace. 
From its appearance, she was sure it must be the 
dwelling place of some god. She slowly ap- 
proached the building, and dared at length to 
enter. 

Everything she saw pleased and delighted her. 
Golden pillars supported the high dome of the roof. 
On the walls were magnificent carvings and pic- 
tures. In the rooms were treasures of gold and 
silver and jewels. While she was looking around, 
Psyche heard a voice which uttered these words, 
"Sovereign lady, all that you see is yours. We, 
whose voices you hear, are your servants, and shall 
obey all your commands with our utmost care. 
Retire to your chamber and repose on your bed 


138 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


of down. When you feel like doing so, repair to 
the bath. Supper is ready in the adjoining al- 
cove, when it pleases you to take your seat there.” 

Psyche heard with delight the invisible speaker. 
Awhile she rested. Refreshed by a bath, she 
seated herself in the alcove. Apparently without 
aid of hands, a table laden with the loveliest and 
most delicate food, entered and stood before her. 
As she ate the wonderful food, exquisite music 
came to her from an unseen choir. 

All these things did not frighten Psyche. She 
knew that she was in the abode of a god, and that 
a god can work wonders. At night the owner of 
the palace came to her as a lover. Won by the 
softness and smoothness of his voice, Psyche 
loved him in return. With each dawn he de- 
parted ; every night he came back to her. Psyche 
did not see his face, for he told her that he could 
not allow this. Once when she begged to see 
him, he said to her: “ Why should you wish to 
behold me? Have you any doubt of my love? 
Have you wanted anything that I have not given 
you? All that I ask of you is to love me. I 
would rather you should love me as a lover than 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


139 


adore me as a god. I have good reason for deny- 
ing you your wish.” And for a while Psyche 
was content. 

Happily the days passed for Psyche. Yet 
when she thought of her mother, her father, and 
her sisters, who must be miserable because they 
did not know where she was, she grew dissatisfied. 
One night she besought her husband that her 
sisters might come to visit her. Sadly he agreed. 
Zephyr, who was sent to bring them, returned with 
them quickly. After kisses and embraces, Psyche 
took her sisters over her lovely home. “Come,” 
she said, “enter with me my house and refresh 
yourselves with whatever your sister has to offer.” 
They admired the beauty and luxury of the place. 
Secretly they grieved because it was not theirs. 

They asked many questions about everything, 
especially about Psyche’s husband. Try as she 
might, Psyche could not conceal from them the 
fact that she had not seen him. The idea of not 
having seen one’s husband was strange to them. 
Something must be wrong, they thought, and 
they told her all sorts of stories of what kind of a 
person he might be. They reminded her that the 


140 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


oracle had said she would marry a monster. 
In vain Psyche told them how good her husband was 
to her. “ Perhaps/' said they, “your husband is 
keeping you to devour you. You had better 
take our advice. Get a lamp and a sharp knife 
and put them near your bed. When he is asleep, 
bring out the lamp and knife, and see what the 
monster is like.” Psyche tried to pay no atten- 
tion to these words. She was angry that her 
sisters had even suggested such a thing. 

When Psyche was alone again and had time 
to think, she remembered all her sisters had 
said. Their words and her own curiosity proved 
too strong for her will. She could not resist 
her temptation. She got her lamp ready, and 
by it she laid a sharp knife. Both of these 
she hid from her husband's sight. When he 
had gone to sleep and was sleeping soundly, 
she stole out of bed, uncovered and lighted 
her lamp, and held the knife ready to kill the 
monster. Did she find a monster ? Ah, no ! 
She beheld the loveliest and most charming of 
the gods. His golden ringlets curled over his 
snowy neck and about his pale pink cheeks. On 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


141 


his shoulders were two tiny wings white as snow 
and sparkling as with dew. So delighted was 
she that she held the lamp near and leaned closer 
to get a better view of his face. As she did so, a 
drop of burning oil fell on Cupid's shoulder. The 
young god awoke. He opened his eyes and looked 
straight into Psyche's. Without saying one word, 
he spread his gauzy wings and flew out of the 
window. Psyche tried to follow, but just outside 
of the window, she fell to the ground. 

Cupid returned a moment and looked down upon 
her as she lay in the dust. “0 foolish Psyche," 
he said, "is it thus you repay my love? After 
I disobeyed my mother and made you my wife, 
will you think me a monster and cut off my head ? 
Go. Return to your sisters. You took their 
advice. I will punish you in no way except to 
leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with sus- 
picion. Love must dwell with faith." 

When Psyche looked up, the beautiful palace 
which had been hers had vanished and she found 
that some unseen power had brought her and put 
her in a field near the city where her sisters lived. 
She found them and told them her story. They 


142 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


pretended to be sorry for her, but really the envious 
sisters were glad that Cupid had left her. They 
were jealous of her and wanted Cupid for them- 
selves. They went to the mountain where Psyche 
had been carried by Zephyr to Cupid. Calling 
him to carry them, they threw themselves off of the 
cliff and were instantly killed. 

Meanwhile Psyche wandered night and day. 
She could not eat or sleep. She searched unceas- 
ingly for her husband. She found at last the 
temple of Ceres, who told her that unless she gained 
the favor of Venus she would never find Cupid. 
Immediately Psyche set out for the temple of 
Venus. She was afraid of Venus. She knew the 
goddess was angry with her and she did not know 
what punishment this anger might bring. 

She had no sooner come into the presence of 
Venus, than Venus spoke. “Most undutiful and 
faithless of servants/' said she, “do you at last 
remember that you really have a mistress, or 
have you come to see your husband who is now 
sick of the wound that you inflicted? I will 
try you to see what kind of a housewife you are." 

She sent Psyche to the storehouse of her temple, 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


143 


where there were bushels and bushels and bushels 
of grain of all kinds mixed together. "Separate 
these,” she said. "Put each kind in a pile 
by itself. Have the work finished by even- 
ing.” 

Psyche was overcome at the thought of such a 
task. It would take many hands many weeks to 
complete it, yet she alone was to do it in one 
day. She sat down in despair. While she was 
wondering what would be the punishment if she 
did not obey the command of Venus, Cupid sent 
a little ant to Psyche. This little worker told her 
that he and his whole army would do the work for 
her. He left her, to return in a little while with 
his workers, thousands and thousands of ants. 
Soon the huge pile vanished. Many small heaps 
had taken its place. The ants had divided the 
grain, each kind in a place by itself. 

At twilight, when Venus returned from a feast 
of the gods, she found Psyche waiting to tell her 
that the task had been completed. Instead of 
praising her for having accomplished so much in 
such a short time, Venus said, "This is not your 
own work, wicked one, but his whom you have 


144 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

enticed and caused to love you. I will try you 
again.” 

Next morning she gave Psyche another task. 
She told her to go across a deep and dangerous 
stream. On the other side she would see a flock 
of sheep grazing. “ Bring me,” said Venus, “an 
armful of golden fleece from these sheep.” Again 
Psyche was shocked at the greatness and seeming 
impossibility of the task set for her. But Cupid 
was ever watchful and ready to take care of her. 
He told the river god to protect Psyche and not 
to let her cross the stream until the afternoon, 
when it was smooth. “And do not let her try 
to pluck the wool from the sheep,” added Cupid. 
“ Tell her to wait till the flock is lying in the shade 
of the trees, then she will find samples of the wool 
of each one hanging on the bushes through which 
they have passed during the day.” Psyche obeyed 
the river god. Late in the evening, with her 
arms full of the golden fleece which she had picked 
off the bushes, she returned to Venus. Again she 
was dreadfully abused by the goddess and told 
that still another task would be given her. 

“Here,” said Venus, “take this box and go your 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


145 


way to the infernal shades of the lower world. 
Give this box to Pluto’s new queen, Proserpine. 
Say to her that your mistress, Venus, desires some 
of her beauty. Tell her that she is worn with 
waiting on a sick son and needs new beauty, as 
to-night she goes to a meeting of the gods.” 
Psyche had been frightened at the other tasks, 
but this was the worst of all. She was horrified 
at the idea. She knew it meant certain death. 
The road was very dangerous. The river Styx 
had to be crossed. She had to pass the big three- 
headed dog that guards the gate to Pluto’s palace. 

While Psyche was musing over the greatness 
of the task, Cupid spoke to her in a soft voice. 
He told her of an easy way to the lower world and 
assured her that she would not be harmed. “ Do 
exactly as my mother has told you and hurry home. 
Do not tarry. Whatever you do, do not look 
into the box after Proserpine has given it to you. 
Bring it straight to Venus.” 

Psyche obeyed his commands and without 
trouble found the way to Pluto’s palace. The old 
ferryman carried her safely over the Styx. The 
big three-headed dog did not disturb her as she 


146 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


entered the palace. Proserpine filled the box for 
Venus and returned it to Psyche. She did not 
dare to linger in these dark places. She started 
immediately for the upper world. She came 
quickly to the mouth of the cave and was de- 
lighted to feel the air of the earth and to see the 
light. The worst of the journey was over, she 
thought, so she sat down a second to rest. As 
she rested, she thought of the beauty in the box. 
A terrible desire seized her. “Why,” said she, 
“should I carry this divine beauty and not take 
just a speck to put on my own pale cheeks? 
I want to be lovely when my beloved Cupid is 
restored to me.” She carefully opened the box. 
There was no paint of any kind in it, — nothing 
that could be put on her cheeks. She found in 
the box no beauty at all, only sleep, — deep sleep. 
As soon as it was set free, it took possession of 
her. She fell into a dead sleep. 

Cupid at home was sick and nervous. As he 
waited and waited, he grew uneasy about Psyche 
and started out to find her. He was not surprised 
to find her on the side of the road fast asleep. 
After a battle with the spirit of sleep, he drove 


CUPID AND PSYCHE 


147 


the spirit away and wakened Psyche. “ Again,” 
he said, “hast thou almost perished by thy cu- 
riosity. Take this box to my mother. I fear 
she will be angry." 

Meantime Cupid, after much pleading, per- 
suaded Jupiter to intercede with Venus in his be- 
half and to restore his Psyche to him. Jupiter 
sent for Venus. The goddess, still out of humor 
with Psyche, came at once. After a great deal of 
talking on Jupiter's part, she at last agreed to 
punish Psyche no longer. 

Jupiter called Mercury and bade him bring 
Psyche to Olympus and present her to the heavenly 
assembly. Soon Mercury returned, and with 
him came the lovely Psyche. Jupiter handed her 
a cup of ambrosia, the delicious drink of the gods. 
“Drink, Psyche," he said, “and be immortal. 
Cupid shall never break away from the knot in 
which he is now tied. Forever you shall live 
together in perfect happiness." 





P Y G-MA'LI-ON AND GAL-A-TE'A 

Think of falling in love with a stone statue ! 
That’s what Pygmalion did. But Venus smiles 
on lovers, and something happened to that statue. 



PYGMALION 


Pygmalion, the famous sculptor, was a bachelor. 
Like many bachelors to-day he saw so much to 
blame in some women that he came to despise 
all of them. He had vowed, therefore, to live and 
die unmarried. 

Out of marble and ivory, Pygmalion carved 
various images. At last he made, out of purest, 
whitest ivory, a beautiful woman. She was so 
perfect that when people saw her they wondered 
that she did not speak and move. She was so 
beautiful in face and fair in form that no earthly 
woman seemed so lovely to Pygmalion. After 
long hours of work on the statue, he had come to 
admire and even to love it. His love did not stop 
with its completion. He who had scorned women 
now found himself passionately in love with a cold 
ivory figure. He could hardly persuade himself 
that the beautiful image was not alive. Often 
he looked at her until he thought an eyelid moved. 

151 


152 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


He would touch the cold ivory and fancy he felt 
warm, human flesh. So he loved the statue and 
caressed it. He gave it presents such as girls like, 
beautiful stones and jewels and flowers. With 
these jewels and with beautiful robes he adorned 
her. He made for her a couch covered with the 
handsomest and costliest cloth, and under her 
head he put a pillow of softest down. 

The time for the festival of Venus drew near. 
Pygmalion went to Cyprus, where the great feast 
to the goddess of love and beauty was held. 
Many were there to ask favors of Venus. The 
fires burned, the great altars smoked with sacri- 
fices and the perfumes from incense. After doing 
his part in the sacrifices, — as each must do if he 
had a favor to ask of Venus, — Pygmalion stood 
before the altar and timidly said, “0 goddess, 
who can do all things, give me, I pray, for my 
wife, a woman like my ivory statue.” 

Venus was pleased to answer. As a sign that 
she had heard, she caused the flame on the altar 
to shoot up three times in a fiery point. 

When Pygmalion reached home, he found the 
statue on the couch where he left it. He kissed 


PYGMALION 


153 


the mouth. It seemed warm. Was it his imagi- 
nation, as of old ? He touched her arms. They 
seemed soft to his touch. Did he imagine this? 



“ When Pygmalion reached home, he found the statue on the 
couch where he left it.” 


Or had Venus been true to her promise ? Pygma- 
lion, astonished and glad, pressed his lips to the 
statue's. Now he knew that she was alive. As 


154 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


the virgin felt his kiss, she blushed and opened her 
eyes on her lover. Venus had seen the wish hidden 
in Pygmalion's heart, and his statue lived ! Gala- 
tea, the woman whom the goddess thus strangely 
gave him, became the sculptor's wife. 


HE'RO AND LE-AN'DER 

Leander loved Hero and every night swam the 
Hel'les-pont to see her. One night the sea, — but 
I must let you read the story for yourself. 
A-by'dos Ses'tos 




4 


LEANDER SWIMS THE HELLESPONT 


Leander was a youth who lived in Abydos, 
a town on the Asian side of the Hellespont. Just 
across the strait was the town of Sestos, where 
there was a shrine of the beautiful Venus. At 
this shrine many times a year great festivals 
were held. One of the virgins who served the god- 
dess was Hero, a maid so fair that Apollo, it is 
said, once loved her. People often mistook her 
for Venus. 

At one of the great festivals, the youth Leander 
was present. Instead of worshiping the god- 
dess, he seemed throughout the ceremonies to be 
watching the lovely Hero as she went about her 
duties. She saw his glances. She knew that 
they brought love messages. Later in the day, 
he found an opportunity of telling her of his love. 
Hero insisted that she could not love him, that 
she was a priestess and must not think of love nor 
of marriage. She told him that as the gulf sepa- 
157 


158 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

rated their homes, so they must be forever sepa- 
rate. Leander would listen to none of her excuses. 
He told Hero that he would visit her that night 
and every other night. The water, he said, should 
not keep them apart. 

That night as Hero climbed to the tower, which 
was her home, she looked across the water and 
thought of the events of the day and of the youth 
who had vowed to come that very night to see 
her. So she placed, high in the tower, a lighted 
torch. Then she waited. When the sun had 
set and dusk covered the land, Leander swam 
across the strait and appeared to Hero. He had 
been guided by the torch. His love made him 
forget the long and tiresome passage across the 
sea. Many nights he came. Hero kept the torch 
burning bright, and waited eagerly for him. 

One night in the succeeding winter, a great 
tempest raged. The sea was more than usually 
rough. Hero lighted her signal torch, and waited. 
But Leander did not come. “ Perhaps/' she 
thought, “he was wise and did not venture to 
swim through the wild waters to-night/' Thus 
she consoled herself. 


Overcome by grief, she threw herself into the 


160 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


The next morning as she descended from the 
tower and walked along the cliff, watching the 
foaming waves and thinking how they separated 
her from Leander, right below her on the sand 
they cast ashore the body of her lover. Overcome 
by grief, she threw herself into the sea. 


AT-A-LAN'TA'S RACE 

Atalanta was the strongest of maidens and 
fleetest of runners. Venus helped Hip-pom'e-nes. 
Did Atalanta win the race from him? 


M 



ATALANTA’S RACE 


Atalanta was a strong and beautiful maiden. 
The oracle had once said to her, “ Do not marry. 
Marriage will be thy ruin.” Led by this prophecy, 
she refused to think of love and spent most of her 
time in hunting. To her many suitors, she said, 
“ I will be the prize of him who shall conquer me 
in the race ; but all who try and fail must die.” 

In spite of such a hard condition, many youths 
made the attempt. Once a youth named Hip- 
pomenes was watching one of these races. “ Is 
it possible,” he had said, “that any will be so 
rash as to risk so much, even his life, for a 
woman?” But as Atalanta laid aside her robe 
and made ready, he changed his mind. “I knew 
not,” he said, “the prize for which they ran.” 

While Hippomenes watched the race, he grew 
anxious for all to lose; for he wanted the prize 
for his own. As Atalanta ran, he became more 
fascinated. The youths who ran with her lost, 
163 


164 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


and as a result lost their lives. But Hippomenes 
was still determined to win her. 

After the race, Hippomenes offered himself 
for the contest. Atalanta was sorry when she 
heard his words. For he was young and hand- 
some. But as he refused to abandon his desire, 
a day was appointed. 

In the garden of the temple of Venus there stood 
a tree. The leaves and the flowers which were on 
it were yellow, and the fruit it bore was golden. 
From this tree Venus plucked three gold apples 
and secretly gave them to Hippomenes, who now 
sought with prayers her help in the race. 

The time for the race came. The signal was 
given. The runners leaped forward for the goal. 
Atalanta had given Hippomenes the start. Hot 
behind him he felt her breath. He threw one 
of the apples. Atalanta hesitated, then stooped 
to pick up the golden ball. Hippomenes shot 
ahead. Cries arose for him. Soon Atalanta 
overtook him again. 

He dropped the second apple then. Again she 
stooped, and he gained on her. Immediately 
she rushed ahead and overtook him. Calling 


ATALANTA’S RACE 


165 


on Venus to help him, Hippomenes cast down the 
course before her the last apple. Atalanta looked 
at the golden fruit, looked at the goal, and calcu- 
lated. But Venus put into her heart an eager 
desire for the apple. She stooped a third time. 

Amid the cries of the onlookers Hippomenes 
passed her, touched the goal, and as his prize 
claimed her for his wife. 
























♦ 


■ » 


* - - 








( 
































* 







































* 

























CE'YX AND HAL'CY-ONE 


Ceyx, Halcyone’s husband, was drowned in a 
storm. Read how a god pitied them. 


Thes'sa-ly 

I'ris 

Som'nus 


iE'o-lus 

Le'the 

Mor'phe-us 








THE HALCYON BIRDS 



Ceyx, the king of Thessaly in Greece, was the son 
of Hesperus, the daystar. The wife of Ceyx, Hal- 
cyone, was the daughter of Aeolus, the god of the 
winds. iEolus lived in a cave. - There he had the 
North Wind, the South Wind, and all the winds 
chained. When Jupiter was ready for them to 
blow, he sent a messenger to iEolus, who unchained 
them. 

Ceyx and Halcyone were devoted lovers. Hal- 
cyone had of late been much grieved over her 
husband's state of mind. He seemed very sad, 
169 


170 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

because he thought that the gods were angry with 
him. He thought best to make a journey to 
Delphi, to consult the oracle and see if he could not 
find out why he was suffering misfortune. 

Halcyone did not wish her husband to go. She 
used all her powers of persuasion to get him to 
stay at home. She told him about the terrible 
storms. She told him about the violence of the 
winds, for she remembered how they frightened 
her when she lived with her father in the cave of 
the winds. But her fears could not move Ceyx. 
He seemed determined. Then Halcyone said to 
him, “If you will go, let me go with you.” He 
would not agree to this. He insisted that he could 
make the voyage without her. “Have you grown 
tired of your Halcyone that you want to get 
away from her?” she asked. But even this had 
no effect on him. Halcyone was desperate. 
She had no other plan to suggest. Yet she knew 
that she would suffer more at home than if she 
went with Ceyx. 

His wife's words hurt Ceyx, for though he was 
anxious to let her go, he feared for her the dangers 
of the sea. He tried to console her. He promised 


THE HALCYON BIRDS 


171 


that he would certainly return, “ before the moon 
shall have twice rounded her orb.” Seeing that 
delay only made it harder for him to leave, he 
ordered his vessel to be made ready. When 
Halcyone saw the preparations going on, she was 
very, very sad. Somehow she felt that something 
would happen to her husband and that he would 
never return. With sobs and tears, she bade 
him farewell. As she saw the vessel moving out 
into the sea, she fell senseless to the ground. 
Ceyx would have lingered, but the young men at 
the oars pulled vigorously through the waves, 
and were soon on their way. Halcyone, recover- 
ing, looked after the departing vessel and saw her 
husband waving to her. Even after the distance 
became too great for her to see him, she remained 
on the shore till the white sails became only 
a speck on the water and disappeared. In grief 
and tears, she returned to her couch alone. 

Meanwhile the ship rode out of the harbor. The 
sails were filled with the breeze, and the men had 
to row no longer. But as the night drew on, the 
sea grew white and rolling. The wind rose. The 
master ordered the sails to be hauled in. The 


172 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

roar of the wind and the roll of the water drowned 
his voice, and his orders were not heard. 

All grew frightened as the storm increased its 
fury. They shouted and screamed, but no one 
could hear for the roar of the sea and the noise of 
the terrible thunder. First the vessel was tossed 
high — almost to the sky — then it sank deep 
among the waves. Rain fell in torrents. The 
skies seemed to meet the sea. The lightning 
rent the darkness asunder now and again, lighting 
up all with its glare. But black darkness followed. 

Ceyx, meanwhile, thought of Halcyone and of 
her pleadings with him. Through the rain and 
thunder and terror, he called for her. He longed 
to be with her, yet he was happy that she at least 
was out of danger. 

Presently a stroke of lightning shattered the 
mast. The rising waves dashed over the wreck. 
Ceyx, clinging to a broken plank, called on 
the great gods to save him. But in vain. As his 
last prayer, Ceyx asked that the waves might bear 
his body to Halcyone. 

When the storm ceased, the sea grew still. 
But Hesperus, the daystar, hid his face in grief. 


THE HALCYON BIRDS 


173 


All this time Halcyone was ignorant of the 
horrors of the storm that had taken her husband 
from her. Yet she was counting the days till his 
return. She got everything ready for his coming. 
She prayed to the gods, and most of all to Juno, 
to keep her husband safe and to bring him home 
to her. 

Juno could at last no longer bear to hear Hal- 
cyone’s pleadings. She grieved to see the prepara- 
tions for the home-coming of one who would never 
return. She thought the kindest thing would be 
to let Halcyone know by a dream that Ceyx was 
dead. So she called Iris, the rainbow messenger, 
and said : “ Go to the dwelling of Somnus, the old 
sleep god, and tell him to send a vision to Hal- 
cyone, in the form of Ceyx, to make known to 
her her husband's death." 

Iris put on her robe of many colors and departed. 
She tinged the sky with her bow as she sought the 
palace of Somnus. She came thus to the cave of 
the sleep god, where no light ever shone and where 
there was no noise of cattle, no songs of birds, 
no human conversation. Silence reigned. There 
from under a rock the river Lethe flowed. Its 


174 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


drowsy murmur lulled to forgetfulness all who lis- 
tened. Poppies grew wild before the door of the 
cave, and herbs from which Night gathers the 
juices that produce slumber. 

There was no gate to the cave. In the middle 
of the room opposite the entrance stood a couch 
of ebony, black as night, and around it hung cur- 
tains and plumes of sable hue. On this couch 
lay Somnus, and around him were dreams and 
visions, — his messengers. Iris softly entered 
in her bright rainbow robe. The sleepy god, 
aroused by the unusual light, half rose on his elbow. 
Said Iris : "Somnus, gentlest of the gods, soother 
of minds and of careworn hearts, Juno sends you 
her command that you dispatch a dream to Hal- 
cyone to let her know that her husband has been 
lost in shipwreck and will not return to her.” 

Old Somnus had many sons, all expert at mimick- 
ing forms, faces, and voices. These he used to 
send in visions and dreams to human beings. He 
called Morpheus, because he was best in imitat- 
ing men. After telling Morpheus briefly what 
Juno wanted done, old Somnus lay back on his 
black couch and went to sleep. 


THE HALCYON BIRDS 


175 


There were two gates through which dreams 
went out to mortals. Through the ivory gate 
went dreams of what will never be ; but through 
the gate of horn departed dreams that carry with 
them true messages. 

Morpheus, through the gate of horn, flew to the 
city where Haley one lived. There he assumed 
the form of Ceyx. Pale like a dead man he stood 
before the couch of the lonely wife. His beard 
was soaked with water and water trickled down 
from his hair. With tears streaming from his 
eyes, he said to her : “My unhappy wife, behold ! 
I am your husband's shade. Your prayers, dear 
Halcyone, availed me nothing. The stormy winds 
caused my ship to sink in the sea. I have come to 
tell you my fate. Deceive yourself no longer with 
hopes of my return." 

Morpheus seemed to speak with the voice of 
Ceyx. Halcyone groaned and stretched forth 
her arms. She tried to embrace his body but 
grasped only the air. “Stay," she cried, “whither 
do you go?" Her own voice awakened her. 
She started up. She gazed eagerly around. In 
every corner she looked, anxious to see if Ceyx 


176 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


were still present. When she did not find him, 
she smote her breast and rent her garments. 
Then between sobs Halcyone told her servant of 
her dream. “I have seen him, ,, she screamed. 
“I reached out my hands to touch him and keep 
him, but he vanished. It was really my hus- 
band.” At dawn Halcyone arose and hastened 
to the seashore, — straight to the spot from which 
she last saw Ceyx as he departed. As she looked 
out over the sea which had borne her lover and 
husband away, she saw some object floating in. 
Plainly she saw that it was the body of a man. At 
last, as it came near, she recognized the form of 
Ceyx. Weeping and trembling, she stretched out 
her hands to him. "0 dearest Ceyx, my hus- 
band, is it thus you return to me?” 

Along the sea was built a wall to break the force 
of the waves. From this wall Halcyone leaped. 
Changed into a bird she skimmed along the surface 
of the water. And flying, she poured forth sounds 
full of grief, sounds sad and mournful. She 
folded the cold and lifeless body of her husband 
with the wings the gods had provided her. She 
tried to kiss him. As she touched her lips to his, 


THE HALCYON BIRDS 


177 


the gods took pity on the sorrowing wife, and 
instantly changed her husband, too, into a bird. 

For seven calm days before and seven after the 
winter solstice, Halcyone broods over a nest which 
floats upon the sea. The waters are hushed and 
still. Old iEolus has calmed them for the sake 
of his child. Sailors make their voyages in peace 
and without danger. These calm days, when the 
way is safe to seamen, we call by the name she 
bore, — they are the halcyon days. 


N 





GLAU'CUS AND SCYL'LA 


Glaucus was a fisherman who was strangely 
changed into a sea monster. He loved Scylla 
and Cir'ce loved him. Finally he won Scylla, but 
it took him — you could hardly believe how long. 














































































































































































. 









































































































A SEA GOD’S WOOING 


Glaucus was a fisherman. The place where he 
fished was a beautiful little island in the river. A 
lonely spot it was and no one lived there. No 
one ever visited this island but Glaucus, and one 
day, as usual, he was alone. He had drawn to 
land his net, full of fish of many kinds. On the 
smooth green grass he laid them. As he busied 
himself with his nets, he heard in the grass near by 
a rustling sound. He looked around to see what 
was disturbing his fish. Imagine his surprise at 
seeing the fish nibbling at the grass in which they 
lay, their fins moving as if they were in the water. 
As he watched them, they one and all moved slowly 
toward the water, plunged in, and swam away. 

Of course Glaucus began to try to explain the 
strange behavior of the fish ; for even he, who had 
been fishing all his life, had never before seen fish 
crawl on the ground. He looked all around, think- 
ing that some god must be playing a prank on 
181 


182 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


him, but all was still. The island was deserted 
as usual. No living thing was in sight. Then 
he examined the ground, and beheld there astrange- 
looking plant, one he did not remember having 
seen before. “ Perhaps/' he reasoned, “this plant 
affected the fish so strangely.” He plucked some 
of the unknown plant and tasted it. Scarcely 
had the juices of the herb reached his palate 
before he was seized with a desire to get into 
the water. He tried to calm himself. His effort 
was in vain. He felt a power drawing him 
toward the water. At last, worn out with resist- 
ing the strange force, he bade the earth farewell 
and plunged into the stream. 

The gods of the water received him gladly 
and gave him a place of honor in their world. Of 
course he could not keep the form of a man and 
live with the water gods. When he thought to 
look at himself, he was surprised to find that his 
hair was long and green. As he swam, it floated 
behind him like streamers of seaweed. When he 
looked down at his feet, what do you suppose he 
saw? Instead of legs and feet, he had a long, 
forked tail like a huge fish. All the sea gods 


A SEA GOD’S WOOING 


183 


assured him that he was handsome, and he was 
pleased by the thought. 

One day Glaucus saw a beautiful maiden named 
Scylla. She was rambling along the shore near 
her favorite spot, — a nook sheltered by high and 
overhanging cliffs. She stopped to bathe in the 
clear water. Glaucus immediately fell in love 
with her. He swam up to the surface of the 
water and called to her. She was surprised to 
see him, and more surprised when he told her 
how beautiful she was, how much he loved her, 
and how he wanted her to come and live in the 
sea with him. Scylla became frightened and ran 
up the bank. When she reached the top of the 
cliff, she turned to see this monster who had spoken 
to her. She wondered at his shape and color, 
for by this time Glaucus had come halfway out 
of the water and was leaning against a rock. As 
he saw her turn, he spoke to her: “Maiden,” he 
said, “ I am no monster, no sea animal, I am a god. 
No sea god ranks higher than I do. Once I fol- 
lowed the sea for a living, but now I belong wholly 
to it.” While she seemed in a listening mood, he 
told her the story of his sea change. But when 


184 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


again he started his love making, Scylla hurried 
away. 

Glaucus was in despair. He could not win 
Scylla, and he thought he could not live without 
her. He remembered Circe, a powerful enchant- 
ress who often helped people out of their difficulties. 
He went immediately to her island and in pitiful 
tones begged her to help him. “Goddess,” he 
said, “relieve the pain I suffer. The power of 
your herbs I know. I love Scylla. She has 
treated me scornfully. Use, I beseech you, your 
enchantments to make her yield me love in 
return.” 

Circe all the while was admiring the form and 
anxious to win the love of the handsome Glaucus 
for herself. She was glad that Scylla did not 
love him. Feeling thus, she gave Glaucus little 
consolation in her reply : “ If she scorns you, scorn 
her. You had better pursue a willing object; 
you are worthy to have some one seek you instead 
of having to seek another in vain. Be not diffi- 
dent, but know your own worth. I declare to 
you that even I, a goddess, and learned in the 
powers of plants and of spells, would not know how 


A SEA GOD’S WOOING 


185 




186 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


to refuse you. Meet one who is ready to meet 
you halfway and thus console yourself/' But 
these words were far from consoling to Glaucus. 
Rather did they enrage him. He swore that 
trees would grow at the bottom of the ocean and 
seaweed on the top of the highest mountains, 
when he ceased to love Scylla and her alone. This 
made the goddess indignant, but she would not 
punish him, for she was too anxious to win his 
love. Instead, she turned all her wrath against 
her rival, — the poor Scylla. She went through 
her gardens and gathered the most poisonous 
of all her poisonous plants and mixed them 
together. She found Scylla's favorite nook, where 
she knew the nymph would surely come in the 
heat of the day to bathe. In Scylla’s clear pool 
under the high cliff, Circe poured this poisonous 
mixture and muttered over it a horrible curse. 

Scylla, of course, knew nothing of the visit of 
Glaucus to Circe, nor did she know that Circe 
was jealous of her. When it grew warm, she came 
as usual to her cool bath and plunged into the 
water. Imagine her horror, if you can, when 
she beheld around her a lot of sea serpents and 


A SEA GOD’S WOOING 


187 


barking monsters. She tried to escape them, 
to drive them away ; but as she ran, they followed. 
She seemed to carry them with her. When she 
touched her limbs, she touched only the wriggling 
serpents and the horrible monsters. As she 
climbed her cliff, she found herself rooted to the 
rocks. In vain did she struggle to get away. 
The curses of Circe were at work, and the poor 
nymph could do nothing. Her temper grew as 
ugly as her form, till mariners dreaded to pass by 
the rock, which they called Scylla. For she broke 
their vessels against the cliffs and devoured the 
sailors who came within her reach. 

But the story has a happy ending. A kind 
goddess told Glaucus that if he spent a thousand 
years in rescuing the bodies of drowned lovers 
the gods would send some one to help him. So it 
came to pass. When the thousand years were 
over, Scylla was brought to life. Then both 
Glaucus and Scylla became young again. In 
spite of the curses of Circe, they lived together 
in their home in the sea near the little pool where 
Glaucus first saw the nymph. 











































































































































































































-• 


































































. 


































(EDT-PUS SOLVES THE RIDDLE 

These days we solve riddles for fun. (Edipus 
solved the riddle of the Sphinx and was rewarded 
— how, you shall see. 


Jo-cas'ta 


La'ius 


t 












\ 
































CEDIPUS SOLVES THE RIDDLE 

The oracle of Apollo told Laius, king of Sparta, 
that if his baby son should live to be a man, the 
child would overthrow and kill his father, take the 
throne, and marry his mother. The king, believ- 
ing this, was afraid of his own son, and gave the 
child to a herdsman to be killed. The child's 
mother was grieved to lose her baby son, but when 
gods speak, mortals must give ear. 

The old shepherd pitied the child and did not 
want to kill him, yet he did not dare to disobey 
the king. He tied the child by his foot to a tree 
and left him hanging thus. A peasant found the 
baby. This peasant carried the child to his 
master and mistress. They were kind-hearted 
people and were delighted to take the child and 
bring him up. They called him (Edipus, which 
means “ swollen foot." 

Years passed, and the child grew to be a man. 

191 


192 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


One day when King Laius was driving along the 
road, he met a young man driving a chariot. The 
stranger did not give the king enough road, so the 
king’s servant struck the young man’s horse and 
killed it. Then the stranger in his anger slew 
both the king and the servants. As the strange 
young man was CEdipus, part of the oracle’s 
saying had now come true. 

A terrible monster had for some time guarded 
the highway leading to the great city of Thebes. 
This monster was the Sphinx. The upper part of 
her body was like that of a woman, but the lower 
part was like a lion. You remember the story of 
how Bellerophon with the help of Pegasus killed 
the Chimaera? The Sphinx and the Nemean 
lion, that Hercules slew, were the children of the 
deadly Chimaera. 

The Sphinx crouched on a high cliff outside of 
the city. She stopped every one who passed and 
asked him a riddle. If he did not answer cor- 
rectly, he was killed. No one had yet solved the 
riddle and many men had lost their lives. 

CEdipus, who had heard of the Sphinx, did not 
feel afraid of her. On his way toward Thebes he 


(EDIPUS SOLVES THE RIDDLE 193 

was, of course, stopped by the Sphinx. This is 
the riddle she asked : 

“ Tell me, what animal is that 
Which has four feet at morning bright 
Has two at noon and three at night V 9 

(Edipus replied, “Man, who in childhood creeps 
on hands and knees, in manhood walks erect, and 
in old age with the aid of a staff.” The Sphinx 
was so ashamed and angry that she threw herself 
down from the rocks and was killed. 

The people were so glad that the Sphinx was 
dead and so grateful to (Edipus that they made 
him their king and gave him the queen Jocasta for 
his wife. And so, though (Edipus himself did 
not for a long time know it, the oracle was fulfilled. 






PYRAMUS AND THISBE 

“All the world loves a lover.’ ’ The story of 
these old-time lovers is always interesting. 
Au-ro'ra Ni'nus 




/ 
























4 





PYRAMUS AND THISBE 


Long ago, in Babylonia, there lived two lovers ; 
the fairest youth in the land loved the loveliest of 
all the fair maidens. The name of the youth was 
Pyramus, and the maiden's name was Thisbe. 
The homes of their parents were side by side. 
But unfortunately there was a quarrel between 
the parents. They forbade Pyramus and Thisbe 
to see each other. 

The cruel parents could not, however, prevent 
by separation their children's love. The lovers 
conversed by signs and glances, and ever pon- 
dered how they could meet. 

It is a very old saying, but a very true one, that 
love finds a way. Only an old brick wall divided 
the houses of the lovers, and the way that love 
found this time was a loose brick in the wall. 
Though no one had seen it before, the lovers dis- 
covered it. Here by the wall they would stand, 
Pyramus on his side and Thisbe on hers, and 

197 


198 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


whisper their love words. “ Cruel wall,” they 
often said, “ why do you keep us apart ? ” “ But,” 

they thought, “that is ungrateful. Surely you 
are a friendly wall, for we owe you, we know, the 
privilege of speaking to each other.” Many times 
during the day they whispered through the wall. 
And when night came, the time to say farewells, 
they pressed their lips against the wall as a good- 
night caress. 

Early one morning, Pyramus came to his side 
of the wall and Thisbe to hers. They met to 
plan a way of escape from their sad plight. They 
agreed that the next night they would slip away 
from home, cross the fields, and meet just outside 
the city at a great monument called the Tomb of 
Ninus. Near the tomb was a mulberry tree that 
bore white berries, and under this tree they were 
to meet. Each pledged not to fail. 

After the plan was complete, they grew anxious 
and impatient for the night to come. Never, 
they thought, did the night take so long to cover 
the sky with darkness. 

When finally the time came, Thisbe covered her 
head with a veil and softly stole out. No one 




200 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


heard her as she made her way to the tomb. She 
sat down by the mulberry tree. So anxiously 
did she await her lover's coming that her heart 
beat quickly and she started at every noise. As 
she sat alone in the dim light, she saw a lioness 
approaching. The beast's jaws were dripping 
blood as she went to drink at the spring near by. 
Thisbe, terror-stricken, hid herself in a rocky cave. 
In her haste, she dropped the veil she had worn. 
The lioness drank from the spring until satisfied. 
As she turned to seek the woods again, she spied 
Thisbe's veil. She picked it up in her mouth, 
tossed it in the air, and tore it, and, leaving it 
stained with blood, went off to her home in the 
woods. 

Pyramus was delayed in leaving home. When 
he neared the place where they had pledged to 
meet, he saw no Thisbe. Looking around he 
found in the sand the footprints of a lion. Terri- 
fied at the sight, he grew pale and searched about 
more eagerly. Soon he found the veil — Thisbe's 
veil — torn and blood-stained. At once he thought 
that the lion had killed Thisbe. He pressed the 
torn veil to his lips. He covered it with his kisses 


PYRAMUS AND THISBE 


201 


and his tears. “ 0 lost girl, I who caused thy death 
will die, too !” he exclaimed. Drawing his sword, 
he plunged it into his heart. The blood from his 
body was soaked up by the mulberry tree. Taken 
up by the roots, his blood mounted through the 
trunk to the branches, and all the berries turned 
purple. 

Thisbe had crouched, meanwhile, behind the 
rock. But she did not wish to disappoint her 
lover, nor even have him think that she was late 
in coming, so now she stole forth, hoping to meet 
him and anxious to tell him of the danger she had 
escaped. As she reached the tree, she saw the 
berries, — red berries. She stopped. “Can this 
be the place ?” She wondered. She looked 
around and saw the tomb, the spring, and in the 
sand the prints of the lioness's foot. A move- 
ment in the bushes near by attracted her. She 
saw some one lying on the ground, suffering and 
groaning dreadfully. Shocked at the sight, she 
was on the point of leaving when she recognized 
the face of her lover. 

Thisbe ran to the body, embraced it, poured 
tears into its wound, and on the cold lips imprinted 


202 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 

her kisses. "0 Pyramus,” she cried, "what has 
done this ? Answer me, Pyramus, it is your own 
Thisbe that speaks. Hear me, dearest, and lift 
that drooping head!” At the name of Thisbe 
he opened his eyes. Slowly they closed again. 
Then, seeing her veil stained with blood, she 
noticed his empty scabbard. "Thine own hand 
has slain thee, and for my sake,” she said. " I, too, 
can be brave for once. I will follow thee in 
death. We shall not be longer separated, I will 
join thee. And ye wrangling parents of ours, 
deny us not our last request : Let one tomb con- 
tain our bodies. And thou tree, let thy berries 
still serve for memorials of our blood.” So say- 
ing, she plunged the sword into her own heart. 

The parents, repenting at last, buried them in 
one tomb. And to this day the mulberry tree, 
instead of bringing forth white berries, bears 
purplish red berries to remind us of Pyramus and 
Thisbe. 


VER-TUM'NUS AND PO-MO'NA 

Vertumnus in disguise won the lovely Pomona 
for his wife. See if he was not clever ! 





























* 








* 



















THE GODS WHO CARE FOR ORCHARDS 

Pomona was a lovely hamadryad, or tree 
nymph. She cared not a bit for forests and rivers, 
but she loved the cultivated country and trees 
that bear delicious fruit. Instead of a spear like 
a huntress, she bore in her hand a pruning knife. 
She busied herself keeping her trees in beautiful 
shape and grafting in the split bark of one tree a 
branch from another. When the gods sent no 
rain, she led the waters by her orchards, that the 
roots of her trees might drink and not die. 

Pomona did not wish to be worried by Cupid 
and his darts. So she kept her orchard gates 
locked and allowed no men to enter. Many 
fauns and satyrs loved her. Many sought her, 
but she would hear none of their love-making. 
Not Pan himself could win her. 

There was one named Vertumnus who loved 
her best, yet she treated him no better than she 
did the rest. He came to her orchard in many 
205 



THE GODS WHO CARE FOR ORCHARDS 207 

forms. Sometimes pretending he was a hired 
reaper, he brought in her corn for her. Again, 
he carried an oxgoad. Once in a while he came 
with a pruning knife as if he were really a vine- 
dresser. Sometimes he brought a ladder and 
gathered the luscious apples. So in various 
guises he gained sight of Pomona. 

One day he changed himself into an old woman. 
Her hair was gray. She wore a little cap and 
walked with a staff. Pomona was in the garden 
when the old lady passed and admired the fruit. 
Pomona invited her to come in and sit down. The 
old lady was pleased with the orchard. “It does 
you credit, my dear,” she said to Pomona. As 
she looked around, the old woman saw an elm 
tree which had a vine clinging to it. She praised 
both the tree and vine. “But,” she said, “if the 
tree stood alone and had no vine clinging to it, it 
would bear nothing but leaves. And the vine, if 
it were not twined around the elm, would lie 
prostrate and drag its lovely fruit in the dust. 
Why will you not learn a lesson from the tree and 
the vine. Why will you not consent to unite 
yourself with some one ? I wish you would 


208 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


marry. Many, many suitors want you, but let 
an old woman advise you whom to marry. Dis- 
miss all except Vertumnus. Accept him. I 
know him as well as he knows himself. I have 
known him all his life. He loves you. He be- 
longs to the fields, as you do. He loves garden- 
ing and delights in lovely fruit. He is young and 
handsome. Remember that Venus despises a 
cruel and a hard-hearted creature. Hear me and 
marry Vertumnus.” 

Then the old woman told Pomona about a 
lovely girl who hardened her heart and would not 
listen to her lover’s pleadings. She was turned 
into stone by Venus. “ Think of that, Pomona. 
Lay aside your scorn and your delay. Accept 
your lover.” 

When Vertumnus, in the form of the old lady, 
had thus spoken, he dropped his guise and stood 
before her as a handsome youth. Then Pomona 
owned that she had loved him all the time. They 
were married, and a happy life of love and work 
they spent together in Pomona’s beautiful orchards. 


THE'SE-US 

Theseus, son of the king of Athens, determined 
to rid the world of a great monster, the Min'o- 
taur. Ar-i-ad'ne, daughter of the king of Crete, 
helped Theseus in his undertaking. You will 
see how he rewarded her. But the god Bac'chus 
gave her a crown. When she died, he cast it 
up into the sky. It is there now ! 

Hip-pol'y-ta Nax'os Am'a-zons 


p 










THESEUS 


^Egeus, the king of Athens, placed his sword and 
his shoes under a huge stone, directing his wife 
that when their son was strong enough to remove 
the stone, he should come to him in his palace at 
Athens. The king left them for the city. 

The mother lived with her little son at the home 
of his grandfather, a great distance from the city 
of Athens. When his mother thought Theseus 
was strong enough to move the stone, she took 
him to it. Theseus rolled it away and found 
beneath his father's gifts. Proudly now the 
youth set out for his father's court. Many 
robbers assailed him on his journey, but he 
used his sword skillfully among them, ridding the 
country of such nuisances. At length he reached 
the palace at Athens. His father greeted him 
joyously and acknowledged him as heir to the 
kingdom of Athens. 

At this time the Athenians were in great trouble. 
211 


212 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


The king of Crete had levied a tribute on them, 
a grievous tribute. Each year seven young men 
and seven beautiful maidens had to be sent him 
to be devoured by a horrible monster, called the 
Minotaur. The Minotaur was very strong and 
very fierce. He lived in a labyrinth which had so 
many windings and so many entrances that no 
one could find his way out without help. The 
Minotaur roamed through the many caverns and 
fed on the lost victims. 

As soon as Theseus heard of this yoke under 
which the Athenians groaned, he resolved to rid 
them of the Minotaur or to die in the attempt. 
When the time came for the sending of the human 
tribute, Theseus asked the king to allow him to go 
with those who had been doomed by lot. His 
father tried in vain to persuade him to stay at 
home. So ASgeus sorrowfully consented. 

The ship on which Theseus departed bore black 
sails. At his father's request, Theseus assured 
him that if the undertaking was successful, the 
sails of the returning ship would be white. 

When they arrived in Crete, the seven maids 
and the seven youths were carried before the 


THESEUS 


213 


king. The king Minos consented to Theseus's 
request, which was that he be allowed to meet 
the Minotaur alone. Ariadne, the king's daughter, 
loved Theseus as soon as she saw him. She 
brought him secretly a sword with which to kill 
the Minotaur, and a ball of thread by which to 
find his way out of the puzzling labyrinth. 

Theseus, after a great battle, slew the monster. 
Then by following the thread which he had un- 
wound as he went into the cave, he found his way 
out. 

It was a gay party that set sail for Athens, — 
seven maids and seven men who had left, thinking 
they would never return. And Theseus was 
doubly happy, for Ariadne had deserted her home 
to marry the hero who killed the Minotaur. 

We would think that Theseus would be very 
grateful to Ariadne. We would think he would 
love her and cherish her all his days. But mortals 
are forgetful, and gratitude is often an unknown 
virtue. 

On the way home Theseus stopped by the 
island of Naxos. While Ariadne was asleep there, 
he sailed off to Athens and left her alone. His 


214 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


excuse for this inexcusable ingratitude was that 
Minerva had commanded him to get rid of her. 

As Theseus neared home, — he had forgotten 
to change his sails, — his father saw the black 
sails approaching. Thinking that his son had not 
escaped the Minotaur, he threw himself into the 
sea. So Theseus, on his arrival, was hailed king 
of Athens. 

There are many stories of the adventures and 
wars of Theseus. One of his famous battles was 
with the Amazons, a race of women warriors. 
He finally married Hippolyta, their queen. 

But for Ariadne, — when she awoke and found 
that Theseus, whom she had loved and helped 
and for whom she had left her home, had so basely 
left her, she was sorely grieved. Venus pitied 
her, and while Ariadne wept and moaned over 
her plight, the goddess consoled her with the 
promise that she should have an immortal lover. 

Naxos was the favorite home of Bacchus, — 
one of Jupiter's sons. He was the god of wine and 
it was from him that the Bacchanalian feasts of 
drinking and revelry were named. Soon after 
Theseus departed, Bacchus returned to Naxos. 



Psyche 


216 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


He found Ariadne, heard her pitiful story, and 
made her his wife. 

At their marriage he gave her a jeweled crown 
which she wore and prized as long as she lived. 
When she died, Bacchus was not willing that it 
should be worn by any one else, so he threw it up 
into the skies. As it ascended, the gems grew 
brighter and brighter, and they still glitter in the 
heavens. 


THE TRO'JAN WAR 

Par'is of Troy carried off Helen, wife of Men- 
e-la'us. Because of this, there was a terrible war 
which lasted many years. 

A-chil'les, U-lys'ses, and Hec'tor all were gallant 
soldiers. Finally the city of Troy was taken by 
strategy and the Trojans under iE-ne'as set out 
to build a new city. Ulysses went home to his 
wife Pe-nel'o-pe and his son Te-lem'a-chus, who 
had been waiting twenty years for his return. 
Pal-a-me'des La-oc'o-on Pal-la'di-um 

E'ris Si'non Cy 'clops 

Pri'am Cy-clo'pes Pol-y-phe'mus 




STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 

Although Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, 
one day she did a very foolish thing. She entered 
into a contest with Juno and Venus for the prize 
of beauty. It happened this way. At the great 
wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis, all of the gods 
and goddesses were invited but Eris, the goddess 
of discord. She was left out because they wanted 
to have a pleasant and happy time, and they 
wanted no strife among the guests. But Discord 
was angry because she had been slighted. While 
the feast was in progress, she threw a golden apple 
among the guests. These words were written 
on the apple, "For the Fairest.” Juno, Venus, 
and Minerva each claimed the apple. They came 
before Jupiter and asked him to decide who 
should have it. Jupiter was too wise to decide 
such a question, for he knew it would bring trouble. 
To get their contention decided, he sent them to 
Mount Ida to a shepherd named Paris. 

219 


220 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


The goddesses appeared before Paris, and each 
tried her best to persuade him to give her the 
apple. Juno said she would give him great riches 
and power if he would give her the prize. Minerva 
promised him all glory and honor in war. But 
Venus knew better how to win his favor. She 
offered him the fairest woman in the world for 
his wife. So to Venus was given the prize of 
beauty. 

The judgment of Paris, of course, made enemies 
of both the other goddesses. But Venus kept her 
promise of giving him a fair bride. She had 
him set out for Greece, where he was entertained 
by Menelaus, king of Sparta. Helen, the wife 
of Menelaus, was the fairest of women. It was 
she whom Venus had chosen for Paris. She had 
had a great many suitors. Before she decided 
on the one she would marry, each had been forced 
to swear that no matter whom she chose, he would 
help defend her husband in his right to her if he 
should at any time need help. She had married 
Menelaus, and they were living quietly and 
happily together when Paris arrived. With the 
goddess's help, Paris stole Helen and carried her 
away to Troy. 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 221 


This act was the cause of the great Trojan 
War. All the suitors who had taken the pledge 
were called together by Menelaus to help restore 
his stolen bride. 

One of the Greeks, Ulysses, had in the mean- 
time married Penelope, and they now had a baby 
son, Telemachus. Ulysses said it was incon- 
venient for him to come to the assistance of 
Menelaus. But as he had taken the oath, he 
must show good cause why he could not fight. 
Palamedes was sent to bring him. As he neared 
Ulysses, Ulysses pretended to be mad. He 
hitched an ox and an ass together to a plow, 
and when Palamedes arrived was sowing salt 
broadcast over the fields. The messenger thought 
that perhaps Ulysses was pretending, so he took 
the baby Telemachus and placed him on the 
ground in front of the plow. Ulysses imme- 
diately turned aside to miss his child, thus show- 
ing Palamedes that his madness was only feigned. 
So he, too, joined the Greeks to restore Helen. He 
was away from home many, many years. 

Achilles was another who did not care to go to 
war. His mother was Thetis, at whose marriage 


222 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


supper Eris had thrown the apple of discord. She, 
afraid something would happen to her son, per- 
suaded him not to go to war. She sent him away 
to a foreign court, and dressed him as a maiden. 
He lived there among the daughters of the king. 
Ulysses, after he was caught, helped find the other 
suitors who were trying to keep out of the war. 
So Ulysses dressed himself like a merchant, and 
took with him a great quantity of jewelry, laces, 
and things to sell to the king’s daughters. Among 
the things that please women, he placed some 
swords and weapons to please men. While the 
girls were admiring the laces and jewelry, Achilles 
was busy looking at and handling the weapons. 
In this way Ulysses recognized him. Achilles 
consented to join the Greeks in war. 

Paris, who had stolen Helen, was the son of the 
old king Priam of Troy. Troy was a strong 
and powerful city. Hector, one of Priam’s sons, 
was a noble warrior. Although he did not approve 
of what Paris had done, he helped defend his city 
bravely. He became the Trojan leader. 

The Greek fleet and army took two years to 
prepare for the siege of Troy. All this time the 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 223 


Trojans, too, were busily engaged in building 
strong fortifications to defend themselves. Then 
commenced the war which was to continue for 
nine long years. In this war, Venus helped the 
Trojans, but Minerva and Juno, still angry on 
account of the golden apple, were on the side of 
the Greeks. 

At last, after long years of fighting, during which 
Hector was slain by Achilles and Achilles by 
Paris, the Greeks decided that as they could not 
take the city by force, they would resort to strategy. 

In the city of Troy was a statue of Minerva 
called the Palladium. The Trojans said it fell 
from heaven, and believed that as long as this 
statue remained with them, the city could not 
fall. Ulysses entered the city with some of his 
companions. They stole the statue; but still 
the city held out against all their attacks. Their 
next plan was to enter the city secretly with great 
forces. Accordingly they pretended that the 
Greeks were discouraged and were leaving Troy. 
Many of their ships sailed out of the harbor. The 
Greeks who remained built a huge horse which 
they said they were going to offer to Minerva be- 



They opened the city gates and went out to look at the great 
horse.” 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 225 

fore they left. This great wooden horse was 
hollow and large enough to hold many armed 
men. On its completion, the last of the Greeks 
left in their ships. The Trojans thought that 
they were really gone. They opened the city 
gates and went out to look at the great horse. 
Some thought it was really an offering, but others 
were afraid of it. Laocoon, a priest, said to them, 
“What madness is this! Have you not learned 
enough of Grecian fraud to be on your guard 
against it ? For my part, I fear the Greeks even 
when they offer gifts.” Then into the midst of 
the crowd rushed a Greek soothsayer named 
Sinon. He told them that the horse was really 
an offering, and said he would show them a sign 
that Laocoon was not telling the truth. Imme- 
diately two huge serpents, their heads lifted high 
and their hisses terrible to hear, came swimming 
in from the sea. Straight to Laocoon they came, 
and crushed him and his two sons in their coils. 

So the people believed that the gods meant 
they should not believe Laocoon, but should take 
the horse as an offering from the Greeks. They 
put wreaths of flowers on the horse's head and 

Q 


226 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


attached great ropes to it. With songs and rejoic- 
ing they pulled it inside the city gates. Then they 
had a great feast celebrating the leaving of the 
Greeks and the close of the war. 

After midnight the Trojan warriors, drunk 
with their revelings and with wine, lay down to 
sleep. As soon as the city was quiet, the armed 
Greeks, who had been in the horse all the time, 
rushed forth and with little trouble took posses- 
sion of the city. 

After the fall of Troy, the Trojans under iEneas 
wandered many years until they finally established 
a new city for their home. 

The Greeks with Ulysses, after the fall of Troy, 
started home again. They had many adventures 
along the way and encountered many enemies. 
As they passed near the shores of the country 
where the lotus-eaters lived, some of the men went 
ashore. They ate of the lotus, and as a result 
had no desire to leave the country. They did not 
want to go home. Ulysses had to compel them 
to get on board the ships and to tie them under the 
benches to prevent their deserting, so powerful 
was the effect of the lotus on one who ate it. 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 227 


Soon they arrived in the country of the Cyclopes. 
These were giants who had only one eye. This 
eye was in the middle of the forehead. Ulysses 
and some of his men left the ships in the harbor, 
got into a little boat, and went ashore. They 
came upon a cave. As no one seemed to be 
within, they entered and looked around. They 
found a lot of cheese, and great pails and bowls 
of milk. In little pens around the cave were kids 
and lambs. 

After awhile the master of the cave came home. 
He had been out to gather firewood. “Near half 
a forest on his back he bore.” He threw down his 
bundle at the door of the cave. Then he drove 
in the sheep and goats and rolled to the mouth of 
the cave an enormous rock that twenty oxen could 
not move. He then milked the flock and disposed 
of the milk in buckets and bowls. Suddenly he 
looked about the cave as if he heard a noise. With 
his great eye he took in the strangers. He asked 
them whence they came and who they were. 
Ulysses told him that they were Greeks returning 
from the siege of Troy. When Ulysses stopped talk- 
ing, Polyphemus, for this was the name of the great 


228 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


giant, picked up two of the Greeks, crushed out 
their brains against the side of the cave, and pro- 
ceeded to eat them. After that, he went to sleep. 

Next morning the Cyclops ate two more Greeks, 
drove out the flocks, and again rolled the rock 
against the door. That day the Greeks planned 
how they could escape. They got a huge pine 
tree that the old giant had used as a walking cane, 
they sharpened it to a point, and hid it on the floor 
of the cave that they might find it when they 
needed it. 

As usual, Polyphemus came home at night and 
milked his flock. Then he made his evening meal 
of two more Greeks. Ulysses asked the Cyclops 
to grant him the favor of eating him last. To this 
the giant agreed. He asked his captive’s name. 
Ulysses told him that it was Noman. 

Ulysses then gave the giant some wine that 
he had brought with him. Polyphemus drank it, 
and called for more and more till he was drunk. 
He fell asleep on the floor of the cave. 

Now, with the help of his followers, Ulysses 
took the end of the tree and put it in the fire. 
They got it hot and pointed. Then they raised 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 229 

it right above the one big eye in the middle of 
Polyphemus's forehead. At a signal, they let 
it drop and it stuck deep into the old giant's head. 
Thus they bored the old fellow's eye out. 

Polyphemus howled and screamed. Drawn by 
the noise, other giants came to the mouth of the 
cave to know the trouble. “0 friends," said 
Polyphemus, “I die and Noman gives the blow." 
Then they answered, “If no man gives the blow, 
the stroke of Jupiter must not be interfered with, 
for surely it is his. Thou must bear it." So they 
left him. 

Next morning the giant arose and opened the 
door to the cave. He stationed himself at the 
door to stop the men if they tried to pass. But 
Ulysses and each of his men took three rams, 
leashed them together, and clinging to the under- 
side of the middle ram escaped the giant. For he 
felt the backs and sides of the flock as they passed, 
but he did not think to feel beneath them. As 
Ulysses was leaving, he cried out to Polyphemus, 
“If any one asks the cause of your blindness, say 
that Ulysses has put out your eye." This en- 
raged the great giant so that he lifted a huge 


230 STORIES OF THE GOLDEN AGE 


rock from the mountain side and threw it at the 
ships. It made in the sea such a splash and 
upheaval that the men were glad to sail away 
quietly. 

After many other adventures, Ulysses landed 
at Ithaca, his old home. He had been away 
twenty years. 

Soon after Ulysses had left for the war many 
suitors had come to woo Penelope, his wife. She 
put them off by saying that when she finished the 
embroidery she was doing she would marry. 
But she never finished, because each night 
she ripped out the stitches she had put in in the 
daytime. 

Ulysses hardly recognized the home he had 
left so long ago, for besides the usual changes that 
time causes, he saw numerous suitors, each claim- 
ing his own wife for a bride. Telemachus told 
his father that his mother had given up hope of 
seeing him, and had said that she would marry 
the suitor who could shoot with a bow through 
twelve rings suspended in a line. The suitors, 
he said, were just ready for the trial. When the 
suitors in turn had tried vainly, Ulysses, clad like 


STORIES OF THE TROJAN WAR 231 


a beggar, appeared and asked that he might try. 
This they allowed him to do. He took his old 
bow which had all this time hung on the wall. 
With the hand of a master he drew the string and 
sent the arrow through all of the twelve rings. 
Then, turning on the men who had claimed Penel- 
ope, he shot them all. 

After twenty years Ulysses was at home again 
with the wife who had been true to him, and 
with the son he had left a baby, who was now 
grown to manhood. 






















































kj: 


























































' J^HE following pages contain advertisements of a 
few of the Macmillan books on kindred subjects. 




EVERY CHILD’S SERIES 


ANDERSON. Stories of the Golden Age. 

For Intermediate Grades. 
By Mary Gooch Anderson. Cloth, i6mo, 111. 40 cents. 

Stories that every child should know in classical mythology, such 
as that of Prometheus and Pandora and of Minerva and her con- 
quest with Arachne, told in simple readable language in a style 
that is pleasing to children. 

BEMISTER. Indian Legends. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Margaret Bemister. Cloth, i6mo, 111. 40 cents. 

In these Indian stories the atmosphere of Indian life is success- 
fully preserved, and the child is given a definite idea of their 
myths, customs, and habits. 

BENDER. Great Opera Stories. For Intermediate Grades. 
By Millicent S. Bender. Cloth, i6mo, 111. v + 186 pages. 40 cents. 
Classic tales which form the basis of six of the greatest operas. 

BIRD AND STARLING. Historical Plays for Children. 

For Intermediate Grades. 

By Grace E. Bird, Department of English, State Normal School, 
Plymouth, N. H., and Maude Starling, Supervisor of Training, State 
Normal School, Plymouth, N. H. Cloth, i6mo, 111 . xi + 292 pages. 

40 cents. 

Plays that are historical in fact and appealing in portrayal and 
that may be used advantageously in the fifth and sixth grades 
for reading, for historical pageant, and festival occasions. 

CALHOUN. When Great Folks Were Little Folks. 

For Intermediate Grades. 

By Dorothy Donnell Calhoun. Cloth, i6mo, 111 . xi + 174 pages. 

40 cents. 

Stories of the childhood of certain notable men and women told 
to the little folks of to-day. 


THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York 


EVERYCHILD’S SERIES 


DICKSON. Camp and Trail in Early American History. 

For Intermediate Grades. 

By Marguerite Stockton Dickson. Cloth, i6mo, 111 . 40 cents. 

A series of biographical stories of exploration and adventure in 
connection with the discovery of America. 

DICKSON. Pioneers and Patriots in American History. 

For Intermediate Grades. 

By Marguerite Stockton Dickson. Cloth, i6mo, HI. 40 cents. 

Stories of distinctive moments of the early days, in the lives of 
men who markedly influenced American history. 

FARMER. Boy and Girl Heroes. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Florence V. Farmer, Vice-Principal Ridge Street School, Newark, 
N. J., author of “ Myths of Many Lands,” etc. Cloth, i6mo, 111 . v + 
i37 pages. 40 cents. 

A book of stories of the childhood of historical personages. 

GARDNER. Nature Stories. For Primary Grades. 

By Mary Gardner, of the Duluth, Minn., Public Schools. Cloth, i6mo, 
111. vi -f 255 pages. 40 cents. 

Attractive tales for very young readers, treating of the facts and 
phenomena of nature and their myths. 

HALLOCK. In Those Days. For Intermediate Grades. 

By Ella B. Hallock, author of “ Some Living Things,” “ First Lessons 
in Physiology,” “Studies in Browning,” etc. Cloth, i6mo, 111 . ix + 
148 pages. 40 cents. 

Stories for little boys and girls about the time when grandma 
was young. 

OS WELL. A Fairy Book. For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell, author of “American School Readers,” 
and other books. Cloth, i6mo, HI. vii + 246 pages. 40 cents. 

A collection of stories about good fairies and other little “ earth 
people ” for children to read in school. A cheerful task. 


THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York 


EVERYCHILD’S SERIES 


OSWELL. Old Time Tales. For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell. Cloth, i6mo, HI. viii + 24 <> pages 

40 cents. 

A book of folk-lore and fairy stories. 

OSWELL. Stories Grandmother Told. 

For Primary Grades. 

By Kate Forrest Oswell. Cloth, i6mo, 111. vii + 246 pages. 

40 cents. 

Old fairy stories interestingly told. 

REYNOLDS. How Man Conquered Nature. 

For Intermediate Grades. 
By Minnie J. Reynolds. Cloth, i6mo, 111. v + 249 pages. 40 cents. 
A story of how man overcame Nature by his hand and his brain. 

STOCKTON. Stories of the Spanish Main. 

For Grammar Grades. 

By Frank R. Stockton. Adapted from “Buccaneers and Pirates of 
Our Coast.” Cloth, i6mo, 111. vii + 232 pages. 40 cents. 

A collection of stirring adventures on land and sea, portraying 
scenes of historical and literary value. 

WARNER. Nonsense Dialogues. For Primary Grades. 
By E. E. K. Warner. Cloth, i6mo. 111. vi + 168 pages. 40 cents. 
Mother Goose in dramatic form for very young readers. 

YOUNG. When We Were Wee. For Intermediate Grades. 
By Martha Young. Cloth, i6mo, 111. vi + 153 pages. 40 cents. 

A story of child life on a Louisiana plantation in Civil War 
times. 


THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 


Publishers 


64-66 Fifth Avenue 


New York 



€ 


























I?. . 


.r 




% "• 




. J. - 'V- : 


••» V- >* +° ■ . 

J*. 

-. 4- v " W . ■ '-if? 


- 

■/*« ^ ri; v i/ -v ••• . • i. ,, .‘■^v ikx*i' • .. ^V'Hfev s r >•• . * / - •>* 


*/i'A ->>s' :>'.*■ -v-** *’ • EJ ~ ' -'V-* ■>•■ r 

*■ & 1 r »r? X r; 7^.v -M'W '•Wr • » ■A* i V/A 

* r ? - v-.r. >4 

*.:; •• - r: . ^ v . _ :- # , . _ - •. ' & ; 

■■■•- x' ■ '■ r/’ "■ --&• i?'\' -i 3 * '* 4 -' i.-. 

• i* -•* - - , V • / • k . , —V ' - . - * : .v i . • • »>|- * - > ■ • 


f X. 


’ - - /♦.. * -...• tvL • • ' .: fr, :• • *. * .I‘ ■ >t* 4 P, * • • 

. 

f 42 i •; - N ; v.v'.<4 x v • a; ■ 

f ; k*. -T - *■ vt •— ' " 4 X : . 

. 

•; •■ -i > •*.«* - v*>\ .a?; 


V • C # ; 2 flP* 8 ^ • Vj- / *• • Jj 


a ' . . • - - : t ' • •. t. - . -'• i , 




*/ 


•w* 





a 



. ► 




\ 







•* 


* t>i( vf 








* 
































r« 



















































1 


' i V*] . 


-> * 

























/ * * . i - v ** i j J/Hi £ 

RR| *.® 


,.•• WfoMfi j j-!j :.HV IL 'i 

, W f ;• i $ r' r ? / W* $ f s 1 . V * i • T . ; . / f 
















.. ■ tv ;.i> ‘fem/- 

; ''V . :■)■■ ; 

• ; *f , • /^\ ; • r k V * 

. ', 1- ■ .’;•• * 


": ' i: ,'v»4 $! 














V ‘ f • A 






* ^ 4 ,' ' ••jv 

. ' :■■•■.,■ ''> . 

;•$&•/• 4s® 

*v vSli'ff: wm&Ym r -?; 






n. .«* 




VPISI 

* it > lln V <S? 5WU 


. \ 




% 




I • 1 Vi ’ i 

r • ‘i •* . ' */a% 4 j » \<v. f * V. v .v . .*. 

' irr *> E. - ti* ; *r Vi lW f F ' 7** !T Jrjutft ST\iw”'UnVY 

/??! fit '•* 

# A . V » <v :,.ff i '•* , :’ • \ • r • * 'M 

. ' *• i rib. t*? ' h 

' fc '•*%' J 

' f' fbJLiro 






m 

* #%i Xurv • '4 . t 

• v* < fcf i fry 


*•'• ; * > : v t , , .' v LZ 4 •« .ft* . , ^> > 1 ,nL 

* ',>:r 4. :.'y 4 *• wSrL/> il‘. ><*£,*&& 

' 

1 ^ : • 'M‘4 ww ■ m 








,l ' 'r. i 

j:.-y tf r r 


u 




; jK; 

ft i:.r* '* v •.« . 

4 V\ : -> *>V. vi : •<««& •,W''-^{/r s :-.:/i-W', 


I. >. • -1 . V TV - • A'uvC'Sr , 

' k ■ ■■ *• • 

■! -'iv re 1 * 


/ •• 


viji i . ( Cf ,K ,*T ,Vi i //r.W 

> {, « * 

t • i .. 1 . * '•’! ** > : i. : ’ \V 'W,' . 'Y *.r. 






• a |\ : y . ■ -,H ,,l • .♦-> 

- 

'? #,.*4 *Vv-. i. • 4^*1 # f fAiy i ’ 

14 ;,.. [■:.*■& 








r p&i rc 

•> Y r » i;.-). ) w[ 

" ’* W'\^ '%■ >}-''■ ■• > ' 1 ' L ~'^\r- t. •!> '• J 












,v>. . ;sf^ 4 )lw«;v k * 

Vf •■■•..{>& 

. ' ■ ■ 

















LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


000257404865 



